DORIS MARIE WELLS

MUSCATINE, IOWA – Doris Marie Wells, age 98 of Muscatine, IA, passed away on January 6. Born on February 1, 1927, in St. Louis, Missouri, Doris lived a life marked by faith, family, and service to others.

Early Life and Family

Doris was the beloved daughter of George and Marie Pfiffner and sister to George Pfiffner of New York. She grew up on a dairy farm in St. Louis, where she helped her father deliver milk and enjoyed adventures with her mischievous goat, Esmirelda.  Doris is a graduate of Melville High School in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Marriage and Raising a Family

While attending Rolla School of Mines (Missouri S&T), Doris met Vernon Wells, a decorated World War II veteran and engineering student. They married in 1946 and moved to Chicago, where Vernon began his career at US Steel. With the arrival of their first child, Sandra, the family settled in St. John, Indiana, where Doris and Vernon raised five children: Sandra (Allen) of Chatham, MI; Kathleen (Jack) of Yorkville, IL; David (Jill) of Lowell, IN; Jeffery (Susan) of Grovetown, GA; and Daniel (Kim) of Muscatine, IA. Doris was also blessed with 25 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by Vernon, her husband of 65 years, in 2011.

Home Life, Hobbies, and Career

Doris was a devoted homemaker and avid gardener. Her family enjoyed fresh vegetables from her garden, homemade pickles, and delicious meals—especially Sunday lunches. Christmas was a special time, filled with home-baked treats made from cherished family recipes. Doris sewed many of her own and her children’s clothes, passing on her sewing skills to her daughters. After her children were raised, Doris worked as a tax preparer at H&R Block in Schererville, Indiana, for over 20 years where she was loved by her clients. She was also a talented painter and knitter, creating baby sweaters for her grandchildren and knitting heavy winter caps for orphans supported through Soar International.  Doris enjoyed painting scenes of nature, especially mountains and flowers, and loved playing fast-paced games like Nertz with her children and grandchildren well into her later years.

Faith and Community Involvement

A long-time Sunday School teacher and pianist, Doris was dedicated to sharing her faith in her Lord, Jesus Christ. She hosted five-day clubs, taught vacation Bible school, and made sure children knew about Jesus Christ. Even as her memory faded in later years, Doris never forgot to share the blessings of her faith and her hope in Jesus. She was the spiritual influence in her family, seeing all her children, their spouses, and additional generations come to faith in Christ through His grace and mercy.

Legacy and Tribute

Doris’s life was a testament to generosity, creativity, and unwavering faith. Her legacy lives on in the family she nurtured, the friends she inspired, and the lives she touched. As W. L. Caldwell wrote in 1928, “Well may we pause to pay honor to her who after Jesus Christ is God's best gift to men, mother. It was she who shared her life with us when as yet our members were unformed, into the valley of the shadow of death she walked that we might have the light of life. In her arms was the garner of our food and the soft couch for our repose. There we nestled in the hour of pain; there was the playground of our infant glee.  Those same arms later became our refuge and stronghold. It was she who taught our baby feet to go and lifted us up over the rough places. Her blessed hands plied the needle by day and by night to make our clothes. She put the book under our arm and started us off for school. But best of all, she taught our baby lips to lisp the name of Jesus and told us first the wondrous story of a Savior's love.”

Doris will be remembered as a loving mother, for her devotion to family, and for her steadfast faith.  Her memory will continue to inspire all who knew her.  In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family encourages you to please make a donation in Doris’ memory to Soar International (https://soarinternational.org/).  

A celebration of life and worship service will be held Saturday, June 27 at 10:00 a.m. at Mercy Hill Church, 900 Ridgeway Av, Munster, IN. A meal will follow. The family will then gather at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery where Doris will be interred with her husband, Vernon.