Dorothy L. Spiker

Dorothy L. Spiker, 88, of Newton died on Monday, June 6, 2016, at Park Centre in Newton. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, June 10, at the St Luke United Methodist Church in Newton. The family will greet friends from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Friday. Memorials to the St. Luke United Methodist Church may be left at the church the day of the service or at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory.

Dorothy, the daughter of Fred H. and Goldie Arlene (Daughenbaugh) Baier, was born on December 16, 1927 on her family’s farm. She grew up in the Griswold, Iowa area and graduated from Griswold High School. On June 17, 1951, Dorothy was united in marriage with Leo Spiker at the Noble Center EUB Church. They moved to Newton in 1965. Following Leo’s death, Dorothy returned to school and received her B.A. in English from Simpson College and her M.A. in English from Drake University. She also took extra classes at the University of Iowa, University of Northern Colorado, Drake University, and the University of Mississippi.

Dorothy was very activity in her community and church and was involved in various organizations including, St. Luke United Methodist Church, St. Luke United Methodist Women holding offices at the State, District, and North Central Jurisdiction levels, Delta Kappa Gamma, Past President of the Chapter ME P.E.O., Past President of the Newton Community Education Association, Past President of St. Luke United Methodist Women and the Iowa United Methodist Women, Dean of the School of Christian Mission, Pageturners Book Club, Jasper County Retired School Personnel, Friends of the Newton Library, and the Jasper County Historical Society. Dorothy also enjoyed making prayer shawls, working with prison ministry, and traveling.

Dorothy is survived by her children, Kathryn S. and Joseph J. Molnar III of Auburn, Alabama and David A. Spiker of Newton; three grandchildren, Matthew and Tammy Molnar, Lauren and Brian Comber, and Megan Molnar; her three great-grandchildren; brother, Randall and Phyllis Baier of Atlantic, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Rev. Leo Spiker in 1967; her daughter, Deborah L. Spiker Hansen in 2003; brother, Arnold Baier in World War II; and her brother and sister-in-law, G.M. and Bernice Baier.

Dorothy loved her family, especially her three grandchildren. She loved her church, St. Luke United Methodist and all its ministries, traveling the world, her PEO Chapter, reading, especially William Faulkner, and her bookclub. She also loved her many friends at Park Centre and her Round Robin Friends of 75 years.