Lynne Marie Dresman, née Cocklin, formerly known as Lynne Nettifee, passed away on August 9, 2024, at the age of 75 in Seal Beach, California. Born on May 12, 1949, in Griswold, Iowa, Lynne grew to embody a spirit of compassion and love that defined her life.
Lynne’s educational journey began in her small town church, where she was taken to Sunday School by her Great Aunt Jessie before she could even walk. She attended and graduated from Griswold High School, and then continued on to bible college, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Sacred Literature from Ozark Christian College. She felt called to the ministry and preaching, but in the conservative church she was raised in, women were not accepted at the pulpit. So she married a minister instead, and together they started a church in West Des Moines and then a family, welcoming their daughters Bethany, Mindy, and Erin.
By several turns of difficult fate, she would end up divorced and raising those three daughters on her own. Looking to do work that would feed her soul and support her young family, she discovered the path to chaplaincy in 1991. She completed her Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange, CA, and went on to work as a chaplain in both hospice and hospital settings. In 1996, she was finally ordained into the Christian Church ministry, and she eventually graced many pulpits with her warmth and compassionate wisdom. As she grew through work and life, her faith evolved beyond an exclusive devotion to the path of Christianity. She embraced a relationship with the divine that was open to many manifestations, and whose central tenet was the life-giving energy of love. She earned a Master of Arts in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. This rich background laid a solid foundation for her vocation in spiritual care and bereavement services.
Professionally, Lynne committed herself to the spiritual and emotional well-being of others. She served as an Assistant Pastor at United Church of Christ in Irvine, CA, and later as a Senior Chaplain at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange, CA. Lynne also made significant contributions as the Bereavement Services Manager at VTOSS Hospice in Torrance, CA, where she provided comfort and support to many during their most challenging times. She was a beloved spiritual counselor in all these roles, gifted at holding healing space for others, tending to the hearts and spirits of those enduring great loss, and celebrating all passages on the journey of life. She especially relished every opportunity she received to train the next generation of chaplains, hospice workers, and grief workers.
Lynne’s personal life was rich with love and relationships. She often spoke of motherhood as the most important experience of her life, and she was wildly proud and boastful of her three daughters Bethany, Mindy, and Erin. She also treasured and delighted in her two granddaughters, Beatrice and Elanor. More than anything, she loved love, and novels and movies about love, and attending and officiating weddings and celebrations of love. Her enduring optimism and hope was rewarded when she finally found her soulmate in Craig Dresman. They married in March of 2016, and she spent the rest of her life enjoying the epic romance she had always dreamed of.
All those that knew her were touched by her deep, expansive heart. She laughed generously, listened intently, and spoke beautifully. She also made personal artifacts of her love and care whenever she could, and she leaves behind thousands of personally sewn curtains, cloth napkins, doll dresses, and grief quilts for her loved ones to cherish. When she wasn’t sewing, she was treasure hunting at thrift stores and spending quality time connecting with family and friends. Beaches were her power place, where she could feel most directly her connection with the world. She loved wandering the shore, collecting shells, and reveling in the serene beauty of the ocean.
Lynne leaves behind a loving family: her spouse Craig Dresman; daughters Bethany Lynne Ewers (Dan), Melinda Marie Nettifee (Brian), and Erin Christine Nettifee; granddaughters Beatrice and Elanor Ewers; siblings Roger, Carl, Don, and Sarah Cocklin; and cousin Sally Myers. She was preceded in death by her parents, Irene and Harvey Cocklin, and her brother Vaughn Cocklin. A celebration of Lynne’s life will be scheduled near Valentine’s Day in the coming year in Orange County, with details to be announced. Additionally, a family gathering will take place at the cemetery in Griswold, Iowa, the following June. Lynne’s life was a testament to the power of love and the profound impact one individual can have on the lives of many. Her legacy of kindness, empathy, and devotion will be cherished and remembered by all who knew her.
A visitation with the family will be held on Friday, April 18, 2025, from 2-4 PM, at the Central Church of Christ in Griswold. Rieken Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold is assisting the family.
