Dorothy A. Downing passed away at Cottage Grove Memory Care. She was 93 years old. She was born on March 16, 1933, to Joseph and Mary (Soukup) Wright. She grew up on various farms in Jones and Linn Counties. She graduated from Anamosa High School in 1950. She graduated from St. Luke's School of Professional Nursing in 1953.

She married Don A. "Buddy" Downing on September 30, 1953.

Dorothy was a Registered Nurse until 1997 when she officially retired from Mercy Hospital. During her long nursing career, she worked as a school nurse, OR nurse, ER nurse, traveling nurse, and a float nurse. She was one of the original Nurses of Hope. She also worked as an ER nurse when she and Buddy travelled to Florida in the winter.

She is survived by her son Dirk Downing, her daughter Darcy Stoll, grandchildren Jesse (Betsy) Downing, Joel (Mallory) Downing, Brianna (John) Lentz, Samuel (Trisha) Stoll, and Tyler (Amy) Stoll, 14 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Buddy, her parents, her siblings, her son Duff, her son-in-law Terry Stoll, and her daughter-in-law Brenda Downing.

The family would like to thank the staffs of Cottage Grove Memory Care and Above and Beyond Hospice for their excellent care of Dorothy.

Please use the Guestbook to share your thoughts, memories, and condolences.