Dolores Carolyn Ahrendt

Dolores Carolyn (Faust) Ahrendt, 88, of Sioux City passed away August 19 at MercyOne Hospice in Johnston, Iowa, after a long battle with congestive heart failure.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 26, at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 27, at Faith Lutheran Church, with burial following at Memorial Park. After interment, lunch and celebration of life will be held beginning at 12:30 p.m. in the Riverfront Ballroom of Delta Hotel by Marriott in South Sioux City, Neb. Online condolences may be made to meyerbroschapels.com.

Dolores was born on her family farm in Alta, Iowa, on July 11, 1933, to Raymond Faust and Nettie (Lindlief) Faust. She was born prematurely during a storm, weighing only four pounds and not expected to survive, but surprised the doctor with her will to live and determined spirit. Dolores enjoyed her childhood years on the farm and graduated from Fairview High School in 1952. After graduation, she pursued her dream of becoming a nurse—attending Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing (St. Luke’s) in Sioux City, with clinical rotations in Milwaukee, Wis., and Fergus Falls, Minn.—and became an R.N. in 1955.

While in nursing training Dolores met her future husband, James T. Ahrendt, and the couple were united in marriage on Oct. 23, 1955. During their 63 years of marriage, Dolores and Jim enjoyed traveling together, spending time with their children and grandchildren—attending as many games, dance recitals and school performances as possible—and hosting family and friends at their lake home in Minnesota. Dolores treasured her family, pets and friends, and loved visiting over coffee—made even better with pie. No matter how busy she was, she would always stop what she was doing to help a friend in need or play “just one more” game with a grandchild.

Caring to her core, always in motion, and highly organized, Dolores was a great fit for the nursing profession and worked at Lutheran Hospital (later St. Luke’s), with the majority of her time as a surgical nurse, and with a private practice. Later in life she worked for years as a bookkeeper in the family business, A & A Cattle Company.

Dolores was a charter member of Faith Lutheran Church of Sioux City, where she served actively for many years. An avid reader, she was a long-term member of the Bard of Avon book club, where she had many treasured friends. She also stayed actively connected with her former nursing colleagues.

Those left to remember her kindness, sense of humor and bright smile include children Linda (Rory) Friedow of Kanawha, Michael (Debbie) Ahrendt of Sioux City, Laura (Dan) Vanden Bosch of Des Moines; grandchildren Caelen Friedow of Carroll, Neb., Braden (Heather) Friedow of Polk City, Jordan (Chris) Butler of Eden Prairie, Minn., Cody (Krista) Ahrendt of Plymouth, Minn., Austin Ahrendt of Dallas, Texas, Skylar and Eric Vanden Bosch of Des Moines; great-grandchildren Addison and Carson Friedow of Kanawha, Harrison and Maverick Friedow of Polk City, Sloane and Avery Butler of Eden Prairie, Minn.; and Landry Ahrendt of Plymouth, Minn.; brother Lynn (Louise) Faust of Alta, sister Janice Muse of Loveland, Colo., sister-in-law Susan Faust of Chicago; and many beloved nieces, nephews and extended family members.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Gary Faust and husband Jim.  

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke’s College in Sioux City, the Gospel Mission of Sioux City, or the Siouxland Humane Society.