Dana Dee Moritz

Dana Dee (Wright) Moritz, 84, of Centerville, Iowa, passed away on Saturday afternoon, February 10, 2024, at MercyOne Medical Center, after an extended battle with scleroderma. Until the end, Dana focused on supporting the Centerville community and her family, bringing guidance, joy, laughter, education, and enlightenment to her friends, relatives, students, and community.
Dana was born on June 16, 1939 to Fern William and Vivien ("Biddy") Agnes (Wilson) Wright in a small farmhouse west of Moravia, Iowa. Dana grew up and attended school in Moulton, Iowa, where she participated in a wide variety of school clubs and activities, basketball, chorus, band, yearbook staff and Eagle's Scream student newspaper, and accompanying school and social events on the piano. In an unexpected turn of events, Dana also won the Betty Crocker Award for the Future Homemakers of Tomorrow in her senior year. Dana graduated from Moulton High School as the Class of 1956 valedictorian at the age of 16.
Dana attended college at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman State University), where she graduated on May 20, 1960, with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with an English Major. Upon graduation. Dana took a job in customer service with Northwestern Bell in Des Moines for severable months until her mother, Biddy, a formidable force of nature, strongly encouraged her to seek employment in the field of her college degree. Dana took an English teaching position in Sanborn, Iowa, responsible for teaching English in all four high school grades, as well as the high school's dramatic arts program and running the library.
In February 1961, Dana met Glenn Moritz, an English teacher at the Everly, Iowa high school, who gave her a tour of the high school's facilities for an upcoming speech contest. They had their first date at an English teaching conference at Westmar College, Glenn's alma mater, where they struck up a conversation that lasted until five in the morning. Their next date occurred on the following Saturday, Glenn's birthday, setting off a whirlwind courtship that culminated with Glenn's marriage proposal on March 25th, 1961. On June 3, 1961, Dana and Glenn were married at the Christian Church in Moulton, Iowa.
Following their marriage Dana continued to teach at Sanborn, Iowa, until her first child, Henry Moritz, was born in May 1962. That summer, Dana and Glenn moved to Sheldon, Iowa until moving to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where Glenn attended graduate school. In 1966, they moved to Centerville, Iowa and Dana had her second son, Andrew William, in May. Later that summer, they returned to Kalamazoo, while Glenn completed his master's degree, before returning to Centerville. While raising her sons, Dana substitute taught at Centerville High School and Indian Hills Community College. Dana also became involved in numerous clubs, causes, and community organizations. For example, Dana raised money for the First United Methodist Church and was a member of several women's organizations, such as PEO, Eastern Star, Wednesday Club, and Daughters of the American Revolution, among others. Dana was an avid reader, belonging to two different book clubs, and a brilliant seamstress, having personally created various costumes and dresses, including some for America's Bicentennial and Centerville's Pancake Day parades.
In 1968, Dana and Glenn purchased their first home. In 1969, Dana returned to Northeast Missouri Teacher's College to study for her master's degree, graduating in August 1970.
In 1972, Dana began her 30-year teaching career in the Centerville School System, primarily teaching English at Centerville High School. Dana's sophomore English classes are often remembered by her students for the fun and unique projects. In 1980, Dana began a decade-long commitment to run the Centerville Theater Department, directing plays and musicals that would consistently fill the High School Auditorium to standing room only. Centerville alumni from the 1980's often reminisce about the fantastic and elaborate productions, like South Pacific, Kismet, The Music Man, and Guys and Dolls. Dana also served as a negotiator for the Centerville Education Association, a position she was very proud to serve in. Following her retirement in 2002, she returned to school to obtain an Associate's Programmer/Analyst degree from Indian Hills Junior College in May 2004.
Dana was a highly civic-minded and philanthropic citizen, participating in many community organizations and activities. She served as the Chairman of the Municipal Housing Board for over 20 years, the Financial Secretary of the Centerville Concert Associate for 30 years, and worked with numerous other local organizations and causes, such as the Drake Library Board, local elections, direction of local theater productions, and assisting with the Appanoose Historical Society.
Dana was a loving wife and grandmother with humor, household organization, wisdom, fun, and an aggressive concern regarding house cleanliness. She was a faithful soulmate to her loving husband Glenn and a thoughtful and understanding mother to her two sons. She also loved to travel, organizing camping and road trips across the US to Florida, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and various east coast destinations, although time and money were limited. After retirement, she and Glenn visited more distant and remote locations, including Alaska and numerous European locations.
Dana took great pleasure in her six grandchildren (Henry and Sharon's children: Jen, Jon, and Karla, and Andrew and Juliana's children Vivien, Harrison, and Brennan). She was also a proud member of the Wilson Family, regularly participating in the Wilson Family Reunion as well as keeping in touch with other family members throughout the US.
Dana was a good friend. With Dana, your visit would guarantee a thoughtful conversation combined with a lot of smiles and laughter. She was a gem who will be deeply missed by all her friends and family.
Dana's death was preceded by her father, Fern, and mother, Biddy. She is survived by her husband, Glenn Moritz; her son and wife, Henry and Sharon (Ostrum) Moritz (The Woodlands, Texas), and their children Jen (San Francisco, California), Jonathan (The Woodlands, Texas), and Karla (The Woodlands, Texas); and her son and wife, Andrew and Juliana (Keaton) Moritz (Jacksonville Florida), and their children Vivien (Connecticut), Harrison (Gainesville, Florida), and Brennan (Jacksonville, Florida).
Memorial services will be held at 12:00PM, Monday, February 19, 2024 at Thomas Funeral Home in Centerville with Pastor Sarah Rohret officiating. Burial will follow the service at Oakland Cemetery in Centerville. Visitation will take place Monday, February 19, 2024 at Thomas Funeral Home in Centerville with the family greeting friends from 10:00AM-12:00PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Centerville MercyOne Hospital by calling 641-437-3434 or going online to https://www.mercyone.org/centerville/giving. Condolences may be shared online at www.thomasfh.com or www.facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome.
To view the livestream of Dana's service, please visit: https://my.gather.app/remember/dana-moritz