Dorothy Dyer

Dorothy Ann (Schomaker) Dyer

It is with great pride and joy that we recognize our mother Dorothy Ann (Schomaker) Dyer along with her work colleagues with a brick within the Catt Hall Plaza of Heroines. She is truly deserving of such an honor! Mom is a role model to all who know her in so many ways. From her we’ve learned the importance of friendship, kindness, education, having a strong work ethic, standing up for what you believe in, being honest, caring and trustworthy and above all the importance of love and family.

One of the things that stands out about Mom is that she always puts the needs of others before her own. She is a “can-do” person that is always doing helpful and caring things for others. Mom worked from home for about 20 years raising us girls before working outside the home. Growing up no matter what Mom was always there for us…before and after school, to care for us when we were sick, to help design elaborate book reports, prepare for tests, lead campfire troops, car pool, cheer us on in gymnastics, coordinate a Spanish class trip to Spain, and in those pre-computer days mom would often pull “all-nighters” with us typing as we dictated a last minute report (or two).

Knowing that Mom was always there for us contributed to our strong sense of security and self-confidence. We can only hope to be as great of a mom to our own children as she is to us.

Growing up Mom taught us that we could be anything we wanted to be. We knew that Mom (and Dad) would and did do anything in their power to help us achieve our goals and dreams. While it would be a breeze for her in putting her family first Mom didn’t take the time to get her own college degree. However eager to learn and pursue many interests Mom would enjoy taking a class or two when time permitted…sewing knitting crochet and computing just to name a few. She may feel that she has received several college degrees though because she’s always been behind the scenes helping us get ours! We both hold advanced degrees in our fields today because of her love knowledge strength and support. In so many ways she’s earned those degrees right along with us.

Mom’s retirement from the LAS Student Academic Services Office is a bittersweet occasion for all we’re sure. Over the last 16 years Mom has been a committed and dedicated employee of ISU. We know this because we know Mom. Mom cares deeply about her job and those she works with she really enjoys helping students has the ability to multi-task like no other is organized accurate and dependable and has made many dear friends along the way. From our end the family looks forward to being able to spend more time with Mom (and Dad) at any time of the year. We also hope that they’ll be able to spend many many years together enjoying hobbies including: spending time at the family Century Farm gardening baking sewing helping at church activities camping square dancing traveling and above all spending time with friends and family.

Biography: Dorothy Ann (Schomaker) Dyer was born in Sioux Rapids, Iowa on August 5, 1940 the second daughter to Henry and Julia Schomaker. At about the age of 7 her family moved to the family farm located near Roland in Story County where she spent the rest of her childhood years along with her older sister, Ellen, and younger brother, John. Dorothy went to school in Roland and graduated from Roland High School in 1958. She married Larry Dyer on July 26, 1959. She has two daughters and three grandchildren. Nancy is married to Gene Gealow and has two children, Ryan and Stephanie. Susan is married to Dwight Bergles and has a son, Henry.

Lovingly submitted by her daughters: Nancy (Dyer) Gealow and Susan (Dyer) Bergles

6/25/02