Dorothy (Wiley) Strong

NEWARK – Dorothy Strong, age 76, of Newark, passed away Tuesday morning, July 5, 2016, at Bickford Assisted Living and Memory Care in Oswego.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 16, 2016 at Crossbridge Community Church, Ottawa, Illinois, with Pastor Sherry Stevenson officiating.  Interment will be in Millington-Newark Cemetery at a later date.  Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday evening, July 15, 2016 at Gladfelter Funeral Home in Ottawa.

Dorothy was born March 2, 1940 in Grinnell, Iowa, a daughter of Raymond Henry and Florence Evelyn (Smith) Wiley.  While attending Wessington Springs College in South Dakota, she met Vernon Strong.  The pair enjoyed music and toured in an acapella choir group with the college.  They were married August 15, 1964 in Grinnell, Iowa.  Dorothy is survived by her loving husband, Vernon; her daughters, Denise (Jim) Shankle of Newark and Lisa (Chad) Dickey of Mendota; and grandchildren, Kaylyn, Taryn, Luke, Jeffrey, and Keira Shankle.  She also leaves brothers, Jack (Janet) Wiley of Olathe, Kansas, Warren Wiley of Pella, Iowa, Clyde (Mary) Wiley of Newton, Iowa; a brother-in-law, Howard Harris of Waterloo, Iowa; and a sister, Joyce Reiman of Oskaloosa, Iowa.  She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Norma Harris and sister-in-law, Carolyn Wiley.

Dorothy was a member of Crossbridge Community Church.  She had served as secretary for numerous businesses and was the Oswego Village Clerk for over fifteen years.  In addition to her love of singing and music, Dorothy enjoyed sewing, flower gardening, word puzzles, cooking and entertaining.  She dearly loved her husband, children and grandchildren and will be deeply missed.  Memorial contributions in her honor may be directed to the Alzheimer Foundation.