Doris Kilmer

Doris was born September 11, 1932, in Stanhope, Iowa, to James and Lettie Munsinger. Doris grew up in Stanhope and graduated from Stanhope High School in 1950. Following her high school graduation, she attended secretarial college in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Doris met Lowell Kilmer at a dance in Fort Dodge, Iowa. They married in Stanhope, Iowa, on December 9, 1951. Doris and Lowell lived in Chicago and St. Louis after Lowell took a job with Swift Premium. In March 1958, they returned to Stanhope where they raised their five children. They lived in Stanhope for 58 years.

While raising her family, Doris began working for the United States Postal Service in August of 1972. She worked for the USPS for many years in Des Moines and Williams, Iowa. She eventually became the Postmaster in Stanhope where she worked until her retirement in 1995. Following her retirement, she and Lowell were able to travel. Their last trip was their dream vacation to Hawaii.

The Kilmer home in Stanhope was filled with kids from the neighborhood and school friends, as Doris always made them feel her home was their home. She and Lowell always encouraged whatever endeavor their children wanted to take on. They were always in attendance at their children’s school events, sometimes having to travel different directions to attend different events at the same time. For many years, she was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and was a member of the Stanhope Christian Church since 1943. She loved teaching Sunday School, loved the church choir, and was well known for her beautiful singing voice.

Doris is survived by her son Jim (Dee) Kilmer of Ames, daughter Cheryl (Brett) Mendenhall of Des Moines, son Brian (Janet) Kilmer of Ames, daughter-in-law Lisa (Bill) Kilmer, her beloved grandchildren Andy (Megan) Ott, Jennifer (Steve) Zweibel, Kevin (Brooke) Ott, Lisa Kilmer, Hannah (Joel) Reeves, Oona Kilmer, Bailey Kilmer and beloved great-grandchildren, Winifred Zweibel, Oscar Zweibel, Kayser Jay Kilmer, Kai’Moni Jaziel. Aria Reeves, Rhea Reeves, Micah Reeves, Archie Ott, Bennett Ott, Carter Ott, and Paige Ott. She is preceded in death by Lowell, her parents, her brothers Marvin Munsinger and Marion Munsinger, sister Marie Mourlam, and two of her children, Bill Kilmer and Janice Ott, and son-in-law Damon Ott.

Memorial contributions may be made in Doris’ name to the Stanhope Parish Ministry.