Dolores "Laurie" Van Dyke

Dolores Van Dyke, 93, passed away peacefully in her own home in Denton, Texas, May 18, 2021. A graveside service will be held at the Mitchellville cemetery Saturday, May 29 at 11:30.

Dolores, born November 17, 1927, spent her early childhood years growing up with her sister Avis on a Prairie City farm which was lost during the depression. When Laurie was five her parents bought a farm near Mitchellville. Laurie attended Mitchellville school, where during her pursuits she read a lot, played clarinet, won Polk County spelling championships, including state runner-up in eighth grade. She also kept busy with 4-H projects and needlework.

After graduation from Mitchellville as class valedictorian Dolores attended Drake University where she double majored in journalism and political science. She was a member of SDX, a society for professional journalists and as a senior was editor of Drake Delphic-Times. Dolores often sewed her own clothes and before her senior year sewed dresses for her sister's wedding.

After Dolores' graduation from Drake in 1949, her career of working for newspapers spanned 44 years from the Fort Dodge Messenger and the Cedar Rapids Gazette to the Milwaukee Journal and the Milwaukee Sentinel. Twice Laurie successfully fought to move from a women's department to main news. After working as a reporter for years Laurie became city editor, a job not commonly then held by a woman. She retired as assistant city editor for features at the Sentinel in 1993. One of her most interesting assignments through the years was covering the civil rights in the sixties. Laurie was a pioneer among women in the field of journalism.

Laurie spent the last ten years of her life in Denton, Texas where she enjoyed the company of her nephew Bruce Eckel, his wife Brenda and their four children, the two girls now married. After Laurie moved to Texas the entire Eckel family spent Christmas at Laurie's.

After Laurie's retirement she expanded her world travels, traveling in total to 44 countries, often accompanied by Doris Haesemeyer. Amazing photography, including wildlife from African safaris line Laurie's walls. Over the years Laurie established close ties with Dutch relatives and enjoyed visiting Holland and family. Laurie enjoyed hosting guests, among them her sister Avis' family, cousins Trish Van Pilsum and Ginger Frame, also special friends. On special occasions Laurie would read a long poem she wrote, a tribute to the person being honored at the event. Laurie was a generous gift giver.

During Laurie's career as editor she sometimes missed reporting. Writing the book, 'They put their roots deep in Iowa soil', published in 2011 from which much of the information for this story was obtained, gave Laurie another opportunity to write.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents William and Elizabeth Van Dyke, Aunt Gesiena Van Pilsum and sister Avis Eckel. Laurie is survived by niece Diana Neff and spouse David Neff, niece Janice Rasmussen, nephew Bruce Eckel and spouse Brenda Eckel, great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Laurie will be missed by all who knew her. Memorials may be made to servedenton.org, an organization contributing to many non profits in Denton, Texas.

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