Doris Gude

Doris Gude, 95, of Atlantic, Iowa, and formerly of Elk Horn, passed Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at Heritage House in Atlantic.

Doris Luella, the daughter of Fred Thomas and Agnes Caroline (Christensen) Jacobsen, was born on August 3, 1929, five miles south of Elk Horn, Iowa, on the family farm. She was baptized and confirmed at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church, where she remained a member throughout her life. Doris attended Clay #5, where she later taught. An Elk Horn High School graduate, she was editor for the yearbook (known in it as “Peppy Doris”), on the cheerleading squad, and was part of the school plays. She took a great amount of pride in being a member of the first Lady Dane basketball team, which her mom made the uniforms for. She was the final member of the Class of 1947 at the time of her passing. 

On August 1, 1948, she was united in marriage to Arnold Gude at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. Four children were born to this union: Fred, Mary, Dave and Paul. Early in their marriage they made their home in Audubon County until they decided to relocate and bought the farm south of Elk Horn in March of 1955. When the children were older, she received her certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant and worked nearly 15 years at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn. As her health declined and she needed care from CNA’s she was always hesitant to bother them saying, “They already have enough to do!”

Doris was a perfectionist when it came to her seamstress work; making all of her kid’s clothes for many years. Her attention to detail resulted in a finished product that looked just as good on the inside as it did on the outside, not a thread out of place and if it was, she would rip it out and start over. She grew beautiful flowers and canned countless jars of her garden’s harvest. If you never had the pleasure of her cooking, you were missing out, there wasn’t anything she made that wasn’t delicious; a few family favorites being her caramel pecan rolls, cinnamon rolls, Frikadelle and her Danish Kringle’s. 

Doris and Arnold enjoyed the simple things in life which included trips to Branson and making short drives to enjoy a Darrel’s Place tenderloin or grab an ice cream cone to share. They treasured the time they spent at countless sporting events for their kids and grandkids through the years, and you should know Doris was the “official in the stands” knowing all the right and wrong calls. They loved life on the farm and lived there until moving to Allen Place in 2019. 

Doris is survived by her children, Fred (Diana) Gude of Atlantic, Mary (Denny) Moore of Maryville, TN, Dave (Pam) Gude of Harlan, IA, and Paul (Annette) Gude of Atlantic, IA; grandchildren, Frederick (Sara) Gude of Lenexa, KS, Melissa Gude (significant other, Paul Perkins) of Little Rock, AR, Jennifer (Elliott) Roberts of Bennington, NE, Jill (Jason) Cloud of Fort Mills, SC, Kelly (Ken) Richardson of Knoxville, TN, Laura (Brandon) Wall of Rosemont, MN, Sara (Dan) Reznicek of Billingham, WA, Jeffrey (Tiffanie) Gude of Atlantic, IA and Amanda (Chris) Petersen of Elk Horn, IA ; 16 great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Donna Gude of Elk Horn, IA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Arnold mother- and father-in-law, Elmer and Dagney Gude; sister, Alice and brother-in-law, Egon Simonsen; brother-in-law, Jerry Gude; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Betty and Ranald Hansen.

Open visitation, with no family present, will be held from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Sunday, October 27th at Roland Funeral Home. 

The family will greet friends beginning at 10:00 a.m., Monday, October 28th at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn, Iowa followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Laura Webb officiating. 

Interment will be in the Elk Horn Cemetery. 

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Doris’ family and her arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.