BOONE, Iowa—Carole Marlene (Pritchard) Dittmer, age 84 of Boone, passed away on Friday, April 22, 2022 at her home with her family by her side after a recent recurrence of cancer.
Carole was born to Albert and Dorothy (Curry) Pritchard on September 7, 1937 on her grandparents’ farm in Ogden. She graduated from Boone High School in 1955 and Thompson’s School of Beauty Culture in 1956.
Carole was united in marriage with Herbert Dittmer Sr. on May 12, 1956 at Sacred Heart Church in Boone. They were married for 51 years when Herb passed in 2007.Carole and Herb lived on a farm in Yell Township for over 50 years, building their home brick by brick from the ground up together while raising their 8 children. Her heart was her 8 children and their families and friends. Carole was an advocate for all children. She was a skilled seamstress, making clothes for her children/grandchildren including many costumes, prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses, ties, cummerbunds and wedding dresses. Carole was a “dance mom”, helped with 4H and was a Girl Scout leader spending many summers at Camp Sacajawea with her troops and daughters.Carole was the Boone High Class of ’55 reunion organizer for many years and enjoyed meeting with her classmates monthly for breakfast or lunch.She was a founding member of the Boone Little League Challenger program for children with special needs. In 1983, Carole was awarded the KWBG Godfathers Coach of the Year Award. She was the 1994 Iowa Mom of the Year, received the Boone National Little League Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000 and in 2001 was presented the Boone Challenger Little League 10 Year Service Award. Carole and her family clocked many hours at the Boone Little League Park and concession stand.Carole was a longtime active member of the Sacred Heart Church and Altar Society. She loved to sing and made many lasting friendships as a member of the Sacred Heart Choir. She gave of her time, energy, and resources whenever the church needed her services.Carole enjoyed reading, journaling and watching Hallmark movies. She was an avid gardener and canned hundreds, even thousands of jars of salsa, corn, beets, tomatoes, jellies and other foods she grew. Carole collected statues of the Virgin Mary, Santa Claus, tree ornaments, antique beautician tools and pigs. Carole’s favorite season was Christmas, always displaying a Santa Claus, nativity scene or 50 all year long. She lived “Christmas is a feeling, not a season” all year long.She was a beautician in Boone for 66 years and often talked about her ladies she took care of, just retiring in 2020 due to shoulder replacement surgery.Carole was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Herb; son-in-law, Mike Scheuermann; and sisters, Marge Sims and Shirley Mickelson.She is survived by her children, Regina (David) Wellendorf, Rebecca (Jeff) Kinning, Rhonda (Jim) Guldenpfennig, Renee Scheuermann, Dr. Roxann Dittmer (Stan Severson), Herbert (Lori) Dittmer Jr., Rachelle (Dave) Flory, Rheann (Ryan) Uetz; 17 grandchildren; 31 great grandchildren; sister, Mary (Jerry) Behn Mentzer; and brothers, Donald (Sharon) Pritchard and Tom (Linda) Pritchard.A Rosary will be held at 3:45 P.M. on Monday, May 2, 2022 at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Boone, Visitation to follow from 4:00 until 7:00 P.M. Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at the Church of the Sacred Heart. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Bliss Cancer Center Resource Center, Sacred Heart Choir or Suncrest Hospice.Online condolences may be left at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com.Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall is in charge of arrangements.
Carole Dittmer, 84, Boone, Iowa
