Dolores B. Krotz

Obituary of Dolores B. Krotz

Dolores B. (Duwa) Krotz, age 90, longtime resident of Iowa City, died Tuesday, August 5, 2025.

Funeral services will be held at 10 am Saturday, August 16, 2025, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Iowa City (Sunday Parking Ordinance will be in effect for streets near the church). Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 pm Friday, with a Rosary being said at 3:30 pm all at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Dolores's honor to support causes important to her.

Dolores Bernadette Duwa was born to Lawrence and Agnes Duwa on November 24, 1934 in Washington County, Iowa. She grew up on the family farm near Richmond, Iowa. At 16, Dolores did housework for farm families in the area before she took a job at Slager Appliances in Iowa City. She married Leo Clement Krotz on January 7, 1954. Dolores resided in Iowa City for over 60 years. Family was very important to her. She loved her brothers and sisters and never wanted to move away from them.

In addition to working a regular job for several years, Dolores also sewed draperies, wedding dresses and made alterations to help with her son Greg's hospital bills. She was quite the seamstress, once sewing 23 dance costumes in a matter of weeks. In 1965, Leo and Dolores became Amway distributors and spent decades selling products, going to meetings and growing their business all around the country. She continued in Amway after Leo died, staying active in the business.

Dolores was an active member at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Iowa City for over 60 years as well. For 6 years she led the Lifesavers for Domestic Abuse campaign to aid women and children out of abusive environments. For her efforts she was recognized as the top fundraiser in Iowa. She also served as historian supporting Court Craige 94, compiling 53 years of information about the Catholic Daughters to share with others.

Dolores was extremely active in her community. In 2003, she created the Red Foxes Chapter of the Red Hat Society in Iowa City. She organized many functions for the group over a 17-year period ... from luncheons to participation in local parades. Dolores volunteered her time for decades at the polls during elections and was also involved with the development of Chadek Park near her home. She always wanted her voice to be heard and she understood that this could best be done while serving others.

In her spare time Dolores enjoyed visiting people in nursing homes, as well as those who were home-bound, sick, or recovering from surgery. She always made herself available to take people to the doctor, cook meals for them or just keep them company. Dolores developed many friendships, in fact too many to count just from her acts of kindness.

In addition to traveling around the United States, Dolores traveled to Ireland, the Holy Land, and Medjugorje. In her later years she loved going to Branson to attend shows, especially to see Daniel O'Donnell, an Irish singer whom she listened to during her final days.

Leo and Dolores had 4 children, Vicki (Larry Fountain), Greg, Jeanne (Robert Colestock) and Sheila. Dolores had 6 grandchildren, Courtney, Samantha, Jenna, Robert Jr., Bethany and Daniel. She also had 11 great grandchildren, Malia, Tenley, Noelle, Enora, Zindee, Wyatt, Nelleigh, Theo, Cienna, Leo and Ryker. She always wished they lived closer so she could spend more time with them.

Dolores achieved so much in her 90 years. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, her husband Leo, son Greg, daughter Sheila and her siblings, Dale, Vera, Velma, Cleola, Clifford, Irma and Elaine.