Florence Dickinson Hatch
September 20, 1912 ~ June 29, 2011
Florence Dickinson Hatch, 98, of Village Ridge, Marion, died June 29, 2011. At her request, her body was donated to the University of Iowa Anatomy Department. Burial will be at a later date at Rogers Grove Cemetery, near Ely, Iowa. Survivors include her three children, Joel Dickinson of California, Brett (Lisa) Dickinson of Brownsville, Texas, and Stephanie Dickinson of New York, New York; two grandchildren, Amanda Stephens and Seth Dickinson; two sister-in-laws, Mary Elizabeth Telecky of McKinney, Texas and Loretta Telecky of Mt. Vernon; and eight nieces and nephews. Florence was proud of her heritage being the last living family member of Czech settlers. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Emily (Buresh) Telecky; her brothers, Dr. John Telecky and Rev. Fred Telecky; sister, Vlasta Telecky Smith; her husbands, Philip Dickinson and Gordon Hatch; infant sister, Marjorie Telecky; and a brother-in-law, Dr. Douglas Smith. Florence was born September 20, 1912, in Cedar Rapids, and was raised on a farm north of Ely. She graduated from Washington High School and Coe College. At Coe, she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority and the Writer's Club. She did graduate work at the University of Iowa and the University of Colorado. Florence's 28 year teaching career began in a one room school house near Ely. Her primary teaching subject was English which she taught at Linn-Mar, Roosevelt Junior High, the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in Vinton, and other high schools in Iowa, Oregon, and Nevada. During World War II, she worked for three years as a full-time recreation worker for the Red Cross in Army and Navy hospitals in California and Arizona. She was active in many churches throughout her life and taught Sunday school and sang in the choir for many years. Upon retirement, she worked as a volunteer in the Witmer Center Telecare program and tutored adults in the Lawback Reading Method through Kirkwood. She also did volunteer work for three years as a recreation worker at Piedmont Retirement Home in North Carolina and at the Good Samaritan Home in St. Louis. She was a life member of Delta Kappa Gamma teacher education sorority. Florence leaves a lasting legacy in the lives of those she unselfishly touched and she will be greatly missed. Memorials may be sent to Mrs. Dickinson Hatch's favorite mission charity: Serving In Mission, U.S.A., PO Box 7900, Charlotte, North Carolina 28241-7900.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Photo Gallery
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Florence was in my adult Sunday School class at Central City UCC. She always knew more than I did, but was always a gracious and thoughtful student. She was also a dear friend. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Mary Taylor
I wishes to send my sympathy to Florence’s family. She was my neighbor at Village Place for many years. I am grateful she was my fiend.
Sincerely, Evelyn Evans at
Village Place in Marion, IA
Aunt Florence you will be greatly missed. We loved our times spent with Mom and you. You were our link to the past.We know that you are at peace and with your beloved family.
I remember my Aunt Florence as a very well educated and well read women, always working to provide for and keep her family connected. Always had a great smile for everyone. Bless her 99 years in the family.
Mother, you disappeared on a willow day and now it’s been a week without you. You took an era, a generation, a history, and my childhood with you. I remember being small and standing on phone books in order to see out of the window. I watched, waiting for you in your Rambler to come home to the farm. When you arrived I rushed at you with hugs. I wouldn’t let you go. That memory will stay until it’s time for me to go. Love, Stephanie
Mother Hatch,
We miss you already.
You were to Iowa what the core of the Earth is to the planet. At least for your daugher and me.
Find peace, wherever you now are.
Love,
Rob and Stephanie
I met Florence fifty years ago when I rode my bicycle from Cedar Rapids to a farm near Ely to visit my new friend, Joel. We attended 6th grade at Prairie. She was very protective of her family and I’m sure she had reservations about this city kid (me). I remember her good cooking and hard work. As Joel and I remained good friends over the years, I got to know Florence as a loving, kind and optimistic women. When Joel visited, they would typically go to church and dinner with Nancy and me. She always had a big smile and hugs for us. She was always encouraging in her remarks on her visits to our home. She would often make remarks like “This is the best meal I’ve ever had!” or “This is the nicest home!”. She even once announced that our wiener dog, Oscar, was the nicest dog she ever saw. I’m sure she was totally sincere in her remarks, but expressed similar sentiments to all she loved. That was the Florence we knew and loved. – Bob
Bob and I will certainly miss Florence while we live out our journey on earth. We rejoice that hers was a long well lived life that I am positive the Lord greeted her saying,” well done thy good and faithful servant” She truly loved the Lord with all her heart and talked with me many times about her faith. It certainly was a big part of who she was and how she loved those around her. I count it as a huge blessing to have known her and to have been a small part of her life. God Bless you Stephanie, Joel, and Brett as you deal with this huge loss in your lives as well as any one else who loved Florence. We look forward to one day reuniting with her in heaven. Love, Nancy Russman
What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight
Though nothing can bring back
the hour
Of splendor in the grass,of glory in the flower:
William Wordsworth
“We do not grieve as those who have no hope.” – I am grateful for those words from the Bible and the truth of knowing I will see my grandma again in Heaven. I can picture her there now smiling, laughing and joining the chorus of the saints. When I think about my grandma, I am humbled. She too saw great loss and pain in her early years but was never defeated. She rose above adversity and raised her children with love and the Word. I have fond memories of visiting her in Iowa, and I loved listening to her stories of life decades before I was born. I remember she’d always have kolaches waiting for us, and even into my grown up years, I know she prayed without ceasing for my brother and I. I loved her very much and will remember her always.