Dixie Lee Bertroche, 85, of Urbandale, formerly of Ottumwa, died August 11, 2022 at Deerfield Retirement Community in Urbandale.
She was born August 10, 1937 in Ottumwa to Gale Lloyd and Edna Etha Liblin Martz. Dixie married Joseph Graham Bertroche Sr. on June 9, 1955 and they later divorced.
A graduate of Ottumwa High School, Dixie had worked at Union Bank in her youth. She was a homemaker while her children were growing up. She attended Iowa Realty School and was a licensed realtor. Dixie was a resident of Ottumwa until 1957 and then she resided in Des Moines, Indianola and Urbandale.
Dixie was a dedicated and doting mother to her three sons and to her grandchildren, but found time to enjoy friends, family and to travel. Travel ventures with her brothers and sisters, her good friend Margi and with her sons and their families were always highlights for her. Dixie spent her winters in Florida and looked forward to getting together with her friends and family living there.
Dixie enjoyed life and all it had to offer. While her activities were curtailed in later years, she still loved to talk on the phone for hours to her sisters, brothers and friends. She will be greatly missed.
The family would like to thank all of the health care professionals who helped navigate the complex health issues Dixie faced over the last two years.
Specifically, the family wishes to thank Michael O’Connor, DO, Arjun Sondhi, MD, and David Magill, MD. A special thank you to Rori Mankins, MD, whose surgical skills gave Dixie an extended quality of life. The family would also like to thank the entire Deerfield care team, with a special thank you to Beiah, AJ, Sarah, Gina, Rita, Regina, and Evelyn, who always greeted the family with a smile and kind words and truly cared for Mom. The family is also very thankful to the Edgewater care team, who provided excellent rehabilitation services, and a special thank you to Oxana. Also a special thank you to Suncrest Hospice and Catilyn, who provided Mom comfort at the end.
She was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Indianola. Dixie was also a member of the Red Hat Society and was active socially and politically. She loved to travel with her family and her girlfriends.
Surviving are her sons, Joseph and his wife Sharon Bertroche Jr. of Clive, J. Michael and his wife Teri Bertroche of Bettendorf and J. Patrick Bertroche and Amy Ziegenhorn of Urbandale; 8 grandchildren, Joseph Patrick Jr. and his wife Freya, Tyler and his wife Joy, Adam and his wife Laura, Eric, Heather and her husband Jim, Lindsay and her husband Aaron, Amanda and her husband Nathan, Ryan and his girlfriend Cleo; 8 great-grandchildren, Kade, Kai, Kru, Charlotte, Colt, Joe, Matthew and Genevieve; a sister Carol and her husband Scott Treptow of Auburn, WA; a brother, Gale and his wife Cathy Martz of Ottumwa; a sister-in-law, Judy Martz of Ottumwa and many beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Doris Williams, two brothers, Sam Martz and Bill Collins; and ex-husband, Joseph G. Bertroche Sr..
Memorial services will be 1 p.m. Friday, August 19th at Reece Funeral Home with Father Patrick Hilgendorf officiating. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed on the Reece Funeral Home Facebook page. Inurnment will be in Calvary Cemetery.
The family will be present to greet friends one hour prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
