Cover photo for Dorothy Tiarks's Obituary
Dorothy Tiarks Profile Photo
1929 Dorothy 2020

Dorothy Tiarks

July 3, 1929 — March 31, 2020

Dorothy Ann (Bunny) Tiarks, nee Gittins, 90, a resident of Northcrest Living Center, entered into eternal rest on March 31, 2020. She was born on July 3, 1929, to Lee M. and Helen (Charles) Gittins, the youngest of three children. All three children had nicknames, hers coming from the way she would scrunch up her nose like a bunny rabbit. She lived her entire life in the Underwood, Neola, McClelland, Council Bluffs area, graduating from Underwood High School in 1947. She was united in marriage to William M. (Bill) Tiarks, Sr. on December 9, 1950. To this union one son was born, William M. (Billy – Bill) Tiarks, Jr.
Bill, Sr. had been drafted and reported to basic training at Fort Riley, KS on January 17, 1951. There was no housing close to base so they lived in a small apartment in Junction City, KS. Upon Bill, Sr.’s departure for Korea, Bunny moved back to live with her parents and lived in an apartment with a friend while she worked at Federal Envelope in Omaha. She moved to Omaha for a while as the bus lines were not operating due to the 1952 flood.
Upon Bill Sr.’s return from the Korean War (where he was a POW for 13 months) they resided with her parents for a short period of time and then on his family farm where they farmed for 20 years. She was a member of the Farm Bureau Women’s Bowling League, a local rural woman’s club, a “friends” card club, several church “circles” and started a long career of volunteer work. Bunny raised chickens and had an “egg route”. She had a large vegetable and flower garden. Her love of flowers came from her mother. Toward late summer her mother and sister would spend several days with her butchering chickens and putting up sweet corn. She also put up pickles. Her bright green sweet pickles would be added to anything that normally contained pickles, like potato salad and egg salad.
In 1974, Bill Sr. retired from farming and they moved to Bunny’s family farm which they had purchased in 1970. Bunny remained involved in many activities as well as spending time with and caring for her mother and granddaughters. One of her favorite things was when she and Bill, Sr. would take their granddaughters to the “donut” shop in McClelland which was actually the Dew Drop Inn bar. Bunny called it the “donut” shop as she did not think her granddaughters should know they were going to a bar. The couple drove a Pontiac Booneville for a number of years and extended family referred to the car as the “BunnyBill”. She continued to bowl and was involved with the Neola Garden Club, Neola Senior Center, volunteered for the bloodmobile and election polls and was a member of the Neola Women’s Auxiliary, being president of the organization for many years. She was affectionately known as the “Poppy Lady” in the area due to her annual efforts to raise donations for the veterans. She also served as Pottawattamie County President of the Women’s Auxiliary.
She was a 50 year member of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Council Bluffs, IA.
Bunny was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Lee Eugene (Sonny) Gittins; sister-in-law, Iva Mae; sister, Helen Arlene (Sister) Cook; brother-in-law , Virgil C., and her husband of 59 years.
She is survived by her son, Bill Tiarks Jr.; daughter-in-law, Andrea R. (Ivers); granddaughters, Jessica J. Jay (William V. – Billy) and Hillary A. (Clinton J. Durfey) and great-grandson Wyatt D. Jay, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, family, friends and neighbors.

A memorial service will be held at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home on Saturday, July 25,2020 at 11:00am, with a visitation during the hour prior to the service. Memorials may be directed to St. John's UCC or Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Service Schedule

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Memorial Service

Saturday, July 25, 2020

Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)

Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home and Crematory

IA 00000

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