Mrs. Delores Maxine Ehrman, age 92, of Anita, IA, passed away on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Heritage House in Atlantic, IA.
Delores Maxine (Dorsey) Ehrman was born September 24, 1933 on a farm northwest of Anita, Iowa, to Lesile Leon and Mary Belle Kearns Dorsey. She was the second child in the family of six Dorsey siblings: Norma, Delores, Carol, Melvyn, Marlene, and Dick. The family lived on several farmsteads over the years, mostly in and around Anita, Wiota and Atlantic, Iowa. Dee’s growing up years included helping on the farm. Oftentimes she would help her dad in the fields or with livestock, help her mother with cooking, or help with the younger siblings. She remembered missing school a few times to help her dad plant corn. She also made fences, milked cows twice a day, fed pigs and raised chickens. Dee and her siblings often spent time doing farm chores and experiencing fun on the farm, such as when they swam in the cattle tank or went to an occasional ballgame in Wiota.
Delores met a neighbor boy and her future husband, Fred Ehrman, another former Wiotan, when he traveled past the Dorsey place on his bike on the country road to and from catching the school bus at the county shed. He rode the same bus that Dee and Norma rode to get to Wiota Consolidated Schools. The Dorsey pet dog, Skippy, always nipped Fred’s ankles as he rode by. Delores graduated from Wiota High School in 1951. She and Fred were married at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church parsonage in Wiota on July 11, 1953 and they celebrated 68 years of marriage in 2021. Fred was drafted into the U.S. Army and they made their first home in New Jersey while he served his country.
In 1954, they returned to Iowa when Fred was discharged from the army, to begin farming. Five children were born to Fred and Delores: Robert, Bruce, Kathy, Kay and Bill. Fred & Delores farmed northwest of Anita for many years; then moved to Anita in 1982. Over the years, Delores was employed at Cass County Treasurer’s Office, Cass County Abstract Office, Anita Community Schools, Colonial Manor Nursing Home, Jaydon, Inc. and DeLong’s in Atlantic. When she retired, Delores cared for her grandchildren for several years.
Delores was known for her excellent sewing skills, along with lots of gardening, baking and cooking for her family. She was often known to stay up all night long to finish an outfit for one of her children, so they could wear it to a school program or event the next day. Many first day-of-school outfits, prom, homecoming and wedding dresses, suit coats, pants, stuffed animals, doll clothes, baby blankets and quilts were sewn by Delores for her daughters, sons, granddaughters, nieces, and other family members. She was an expert at making homemade pizza, cinnamon rolls, goulash, brownies, fried chicken, chocolate cake, and her family loved all of the amazing dishes and desserts she cooked. Dee’s gardens often included many vegetables and the apple and cherry trees for feeding a large family living on the farm. She also raised chickens on the farm for many years. In her later years, Dee was an avid Iowa Hawkeye, ISU Cyclone, Indiana Fever and Kansas City Chiefs fan. She was a true “Wiotan”, and loved attending her All-Wiota Consolidated School Class Reunions for many years, most recently in July of 2025. She was a lifetime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Anita.
Delores was preceded in death by her husband, Fred in 2022, her son Bruce in 2002, a granddaughter, Brittany Husted in 2022, her parents Lesile and Mary Dorsey, her parents-in-law, Fred & Theresa Ehrman, her siblings Carol Schuler and Marlene Rosenberg, her brothers-in-law James, Paul, Joe and Vince Ehrman, and her step-father, Ejner Jensen.
We are also certain there is a great reunion in heaven with Delores and Fred’s dearest lifelong friends, Jack & Barb Retz, as well.
Dee is survived by her children: Robert (Bob) and Kathy Ehrman, Kathy and Doug Husted, Kay and Chris Stork, Bill Ehrman, and daughter-in-law Terri Ehrman. Eight surviving grandchildren include: Melissa & Jim Johnson, James Ehrman & Lisa Pedersen, Jess & Cory Ellis, Josh & Katie Ehrman, Nathan & Andi Stork, Alex & Angela Stork, Tyler Stork, and Anna Stork. Fifteen surviving great-grandchildren include: Aly Brockob, Rio, Conner & Lily Johnson, Chase, Steele and Garrett McLaren, Tanner & Mackenzie Ellis, Hunter & Sarah Ellis-Hanscom, Anthony & Lexi Ehrman, Kenadie & Krew Stork, Eila & Clara Stork, and two great, great grandchildren, Russell Ehrman and Aurelia Ellis. She is also survived by her sister, Norma Schaaf, brothers Melvyn Dorsey and Dick (Janet) Dorsey, and sister-in-law Elinor Ehrman.
Memorials may be directed to a few of Dee’s favorite causes, such as the American Cancer Society, Anita Public Library, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Anita, or the Dementia Society of America. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.
“You may not remember, but I will NEVER forget.” -Alzheimer’s Awareness
Public Visitation with the family will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with the Rosary Prayer at 4:00 p.m., on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Anita.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, December 19, 2025, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Anita, IA, with Fr Brad Robey as the Celebrant. Interment will take place following the mass at Evergreen Cemetery in Anita. A luncheon will be held in the Fellowship Hall of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Anita.
