Dora Lou Keast

Dora Lou Hatswell was born at the old Red Oak Hospital (one block south of the east side of the square) on January 12, 1935. She was the only child of Carl Albert and Jessie (Wigginton) Hatswell. Her name came from his maternal grandmother, Dora Wigginton and her paternal grandfather, Lou (Lewis) Hatswell. To her Dad she was always known as "Punk". Dora Lou grew up on the family farm in the house built by her grandparents (around 1900), Lewis and Anna Maude Hatswell and attended country school, Grove #8, one-half mile west of the farm. She graduated from Macedonia High School in 1953 and then worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Omaha.

On April 12, 1954, she married Edward F. Keast. They lived in Augusta, Georgia where Edward was stationed with the U.S. Army. In October, he left for duty in Berlin, Germany, 110 miles behind the Russian border. The following fall, Dora Lou sailed to Rotterdam, Holland where Edward met her and they had time to see Holland, the White Cliffs of Dover, Belgium, and England before going to Berlin by train and their home on the second floor of a German home. Their apartment was lovely and the landlord was gracious and kind. While living in Germany, they had the opportunity to see France, the Isle of Capri, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy, as well as the aforementioned countries, always traveling by car the same 110 mile route to get out of the Russian zone and to freedom. They returned to the U.S. in January 1957 when Edward enrolled at ISU in Ames, IA. It was there that their first child, Russell Andrew, was born in June 1958. Later they returned to Dora Lou's family farm where Edward was in partnership with his father-in-law, Carl Hatswell. Two more children joined the family, Jill Suzanne in 1961 and Bret Christian in 1965. Dora Lou and Edward took great pride in seeing all three children graduate from college and go on to have successful careers. With them they never said "if you go to college" but rather "when you go on to college". The same phrase is often spoken in the homes of their children.

Edward and Dora Lou enjoyed traveling back to England and on to Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, the Holy Land and Egypt, Scandinavia, Alaska and to Hawaii for both their 25th and 50th anniversaries. The most recent trip to Hawaii was with their entire family. A month or so each winter has been spent in Sugar Land, TX, enjoying Bret's family. Trips were made each year to visit Jill including an annual special occasion to decorate for Christmas. They both deeply enjoyed their nearby grandchildren and Russ' family activities.

Dora Lou was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2008. She passed away on Mothers' Day, May 10, 2009 at the Methodist Hospital in Omaha, NE at the age of 74 years, 3 months, and 28 days. She was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Jessie Hatswell and sister-in-law Dolora Keast.

Dora Lou is survived by her husband Edward after 55 years of marriage; son Russell and wife Diane and their three children, Allison, Samantha and Grant; the family lives on the family farm; Jill Keast of Overland Park, KS; and Bret and wife Kimberlee and their four children, Sophia, Max, Harrison and Isabelle of Sugar Land, TX; sisters-in-law Catherine Lett and husband Merrill (Dutch)of Macedonia, IA, Karen Hall and husband John, Carol Edic and husband Curtis,all of Council Bluffs, IA and brother-in-law Ron Keast and wife Carol of Red Oak, IA; and cousins and a large host of close friends.

Dora Lou was a member of the Faith Community Church and known to all for her devotion to the Lord, caring way, giving spirit, genuine smile, cheery way, and optimistic view of everything. She comforted and cared for everyone she knew and met. She loved her time with family and friends including lunches with "the girls", club activities, bible studies, and other community events. Most of all she cherished her time with the love of her life, Edward.

A favorite quip of Dora Lou's was "Don't tell God how big your mountain is; tell the mountain how big your God is!"