Tuesday, November 29, 2022
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This is my tribute to dear Aunt Doris that I wrote and posted on Facebook Sunday Nov. 27.
My siblings cousins and I were blessed to be part of large family plus all the joys quirkiness and occasional drama that come with that. Both sets of grandparents had 5 children plus spouses and 21 grandchildren. We grew up regularly getting together on weekends and holidays. We worshipped together farmed together celebrated together and mourned together. On Nov.24 Mom’s brother Floyd died. His death made Mom the last from her family of origin.This morning( Nov.27) Dad’s sister Doris Treimer died. She was the last from her family of origin. I know this was heartache for her. Doris was sentimental but she was neither maudlin nor a sad sack. Her devout Christian faith gave her strength comfort and peace over the years. She got her faith from her parents and passed it down to her children and grandchildren.
Doris felt sorrow when people passed but she was able to maintain her composure. I do remember sadness in her voice when she spoke of her baby brother who lived just a year. “I was only 10 when John Edward died.” She made gooseberry pies for brothers Kenny and Sandy specially for their birthdays. Like her mother Ida she was a good cook and excellent baker. Her pies looked perfect and beautiful enough to be on magazine cover. They tasted as good as they looked Doris was 96 last May 3 and understood her time was coming. She enjoyed life as much as possible but she was calmly ready to go and be free of pain. It is sad to say goodbye to her earthly life but it helps to know Doris will be happily reunited with loved ones already in heaven. Aunt Doris has always been interested in keeping up with news of relatives. She grew up on the farm west of Ayrshire and graduated from Gillett Grove in 1942. Doris played in band. She told me she still has her trumpet but she didn’t think she had enough power to play it. Doris loved staying in touch with people and was a wealth of information about history of Salton family, our rural Logan township neighborhood, Gillett Grove school and of course Hartley-where she lived after she married Virgil. They had sweet love. He was Navy veteran during WWII and she was patriotic proud to be daughter of WWI veteran and wife of WWII vet. I remember Virgil got Doris flowers and hand wrote loving note on card in the bouquet. Their happy and long marriage was living example of true love and devotion. They took Grandma Salton along on their family vacations every summer and helped Grandma bring back souvenirs for her grandchildren. Doris and her sister Helen were loving daughters who took their mother to doctor run errands or whatever she needed. They brought Grandma to Des Moines so she could see my workplace and my first house. I specifically wanted a place with no steps to make easy for Grandma. They did so much to help Grandma Salton make big holiday gatherings special for our family. From grocery shopping, house cleaning, cooking and setting up tables for sit down dinners plus clean up after the meals, they really worked hard. All the aunts and uncles helped make it special. If you have had your picture taken by me you can thank Aunt Doris for that. She enthusiastically had her camera ready to take pictures and documents our family over the years. I’m thankful she did! She also wrote newsy letters and randomly tuck in a dollar or two with the note to treat yourself to ice cream. Cherry nut was her favorite. In later years she would apologize for not writing, saying, “I just don’t seem to have much pep anymore”. I would send a picture or two when I sent her a card because I knew she liked pictures. I also had Gary print off obituaries of people Doris knew so I could send those to her. She said she liked to read them but often did not have a way to see them. Still it was a treat to get a note. Also it was a treat when she would call and talk, to laugh and reminisce. She was happy to hear news of family and asked about everyone. I would ask Aunt Doris about something. She would chuckle, “Well I should know but I am getting forgetful. I know I am. 6 months ago I could have told you but now I can’t. Then she laughed. We both did. She still remembered more than many people knew in the first place! Doris and het siblings grew up in the days when kids were expected to learn classic poetry. They did and could recite from memory many poems! A couple years ago I asked her favorite poem. She had to think a minute because she liked so many of them. She said she really appreicated “Thanatopsis” by William Cullen Bryant. She still knew it by heart!
I have so many fond memories of Aunt Doris. I know she loved her family her friends and her Lord. I know I will see her in heaven. I know 96 is a good long life and I thank God for creating this lady. Every phone she told me she prayed for me and all our family. She ended each call with a chuckle and a smile. It’s sure good talking to you. I love you honey.” Tonight I found an old voicemail and had to listen just to hear her laugh. God bless the memory of dear Aunt Doris Treimer. I will always remember you and I will smile when I do.
