Dorothy Leann Megchelsen, age 74, of Ainsworth, Iowa died Friday, October 28, 2011 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a sudden illness.

Celebration of life services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 3, 2011 at the United Presbyterian Church in Washington with Rev. Bob Wollenberg officiating. Visitation will begin noon Wednesday at the Jones Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 – 8:00 Wednesday evening. Interment will take place at the Oregon Township Cemetery in Ainsworth, Iowa. Memorials have been established for the United Presbyterian Church of Washington, the Washington Community Y or the Children's Miracle Network at the University of Iowa. Online condolences may be sent for Dorothy's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com

Dorothy was born January 2, 1937 in Ainsworth, Iowa the daughter of Milford Lloyd and Beatrice Elmira (Klopfenstein) McCreedy. She attended school in Washington, Iowa and graduated from Washington High School in 1955. Dorothy later attended Iowa Methodist School of Nursing in Des Moines, Iowa, graduating in 1958. She was united in marriage to Gerard Megchelsen on March 8, 1959 in Ainsworth, Iowa.

Following her marriage she was proud to call herself a homemaker and took much pleasure in raising her family and helping her husband with the family farm operation. Dorothy worked as a Registered Nurse in the Pediatrics Department of the University of Iowa from 1980 until her retirement in 2000.

She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Washington, Iowa where she was a Deacon of the church. Dorothy was a 4-H leader for many years. She enjoyed the time she spent with her family and loved playing games with her grandchildren. Dorothy was always concerned about others and enjoyed helping people in any way she could.

She is survived by her son Neal Megchelsen and wife Karen of Ainsworth, Iowa; daughter Sara Megchelsen and husband Rob Horning of Stillwater, Minnesota; daughter Mary Malenke and husband David of Maple Grove, Minnesota; six grandchildren and two step grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother Wilfred McCreedy and wife Karen of Ainsworth, Iowa, sister-in-law Lila Megchelsen of Marengo, Iowa and many nieces and nephews.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband on May 22, 1996, two brothers-in-law, Robert and Karl L. Megchelsen Jr., and a sister-in-law Edith Megchelsen Simpson McGee.