Obituary of Dorothy Arnold

Dorothy Elaine Arnold, daughter of Carl and Christine Arnold, was born September 23, 1915, at home in Schaller, Iowa. Dorothy grew up on farms in the Lake Park, Iowa area and graduated from Swea City High School in 1935. Dorothy graduated from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa in 1939 as a music education major. She taught elementary and high school vocal and instrumental music at Elliott, IA, Jordan, IA and Estherville, Iowa. Dorothy changed careers in 1950 and moved to Cedar Rapids, IA, where she graduated from the Paris Academy of Beauty and Culture. She became a businesswomen and opened her own beauty salon, in southwest Cedar Rapids. She eventually purchased the Hallmar Beauty Salon, located in Mercy Hospital and Hallmar Care Center, in Cedar Rapids. Dorothy operated her salon until the age of 82, when regretfully she made the decision to retire. Dorothy was a strong proponent of women in business, and was extremely active in both the American Business Women's Association, where she was elected Women of the Year, in 1969 and President in 1979, and the Cedar Rapids Hairdresser's Association- where she held numerous offices and committee chairs. Dorothy had a lifelong love and appreciation of music. She was a pianist, and had a beautiful alto voice. She sang in the Cedar Rapids Civic Choir for 11 years, and was a faithful member of the Cedar Rapid's St. Paul Methodist Church choir and bell choir for 50 years. She never missed a chance to sing and participate in a concert of her beloved "Messiah". At the age of 80, she created the "Golden Warblers", a senior citizen singing group, and conducted dozens of concerts for nursing home residents in the Cedar Rapids area. Dorothy greatly enjoyed working in her garden and creating needlepoint pieces. She was a cookie and candy-maker extraordinaire, and every Christmas created boxes of home-made candies and cookies for her family and many friends. Dorothy was the family genealogist, and spent many years researching and compiling her family's history. She eventually wrote and published two family genealogy books which she generously gave to her family. She was an avid traveler, and was always ready to be the driver on a long road trip to a new location. She was a wonderful and caring aunt to her nieces and nephews. Dorothy passed away Friday, October 16, 2009 at Keelson Harbor in Spirit Lake at ninety-four years of age. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Lee Arnold and Dr. Keith Arnold, and a nephew, Randy Arnold. Dorothy is survived by her brother Allen (Mary) Arnold, her sister Elaine (Lawrence) Rensink, nieces, nephews, and cousins.