Delores "Lori" Ewoldt

Delores ‘Lori’ Marie (Drechsler) Ewoldt, 89, of LeClaire, Iowa passed away peacefully in the presence of her family early Saturday, March 15, 2025. She had been living at Bickford Cottage in Davenport for the past 15 months.

Delores, the daughter of Frank and Mildred (Haessler) Drechsler, was born on September 28, 1935 in LeClaire, IA. Delores graduated from LeClaire High School. She married Otto L. Ewoldt on December 19, 1952. Otto preceded her in death on April 17, 2006. The couple resided in LeClaire all their lives where they owned and operated Ewoldt’s Appliance and TV for 60 years.

Delores faithfully participated in the life of the First Presbyterian Church since she was a little girl when she walked to church with her big sister. Throughout her life she served faithfully in many capacities including teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. Delores enjoyed learning God’s Word, writing copious notes in her Bible.

As a young girl, she was a Girl Scout. She carried on the tradition like her mother and became a Girl Scout Leader for her daughters and supported her son in Boy Scouts as well. ‘Being Prepared’ was the motto! 

A lifelong resident of LeClaire, Delores was very involved in the LeClaire community. She was a historian at heart and enjoyed serving with the Buffalo Bill Museum as a Director, Scott County Historical Society, American Schleswig-Holstein Heritage Society and German Heritage Center. Patriotism was very important to her as a member of the Republican Women. She was also an active member of the Community Improvement Corporation and the LeClaire Civic Club.

Music was Delores’s ‘Happy Place’! She played the piano that led her to become an accomplished accordion player. As an 8th grader, she received her first accordion and was soon playing upbeat music along with several friends, forming an accordion club. She and Otto loved to dance at friends and family celebrations.

Delores was a homemaker, extraordinaire! She turned out wonderful meals and cookies along with ‘putting up’ the garden and orchard produce out of her tiny little kitchen. She loved her flowers and kept her yard in good order. She was an avid seamstress of clothing and costumes and passed on that skill to her 4 daughters.

Delores and Otto traveled the world and encouraged their children to experience the same. As a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she always looked forward to being with her family attending events and activities to celebrate their successes and special occasions. Delores’s legacy of caring devotion to her family and her faith in Jesus will be carried on by her family.

Delores’s survivors include her children, Joanie (David) Stineman of Marion, IA, Judy (John) Robertson of Elmhurst, IL, Janet (Carl) Lust of Reasnor, IA, Jennifer (Kenneth) Phillips of Peru, IL, John (Lisa) Ewoldt of Gilbert, AZ. Lori’s grandchildren include Ben (Megan) Stineman, Samuel (Kristine) Stineman, Karley (Joseph) Sanders, Andrew Stineman, Joseph Stineman, Amy Stineman; Steven (Brooke Blazevich) Robertson, Kreg (Krista) Robertson; Adam (Kerry) Lust, Julie (Daniel) Hartness; Anna Noble, Amber Brown, Alyssa (Miles ‘Wally’) Bishop; Emily Ewoldt, Nathan (Emily) Ewoldt; Kyle Ewoldt. The great-grandchildren include Myra Stineman, Ella Stineman, Leo Stineman, Clarence Stineman; Grant Stineman, Alice Sanders, Amelia Sanders, Otto Stineman; Junior Robertson, Ada Robertson; Bodie Robertson; Carter Lust, Brandon Lust, Jaina Lust; Tyrene Harer, Max Lipa, Johnnie Brown, Daniel Phillips; Charlotte Ewoldt. Also surviving is her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Mary Jo Ewoldt, along with many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Otto L. Ewoldt; sister and brother-in-law, Diana and Vernon Spring; parents, Frank and Mildred Drechsler; and Otto’s 5 brothers and 3 sisters and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church of LeClaire or the Buffalo Bill Museum.

Funeral services will be 11:00 am on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at the First Presbyterian Church of LeClaire, IA. Family will greet friends on Friday, March 21, 2025 at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home, Bettendorf from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Saturday from 10:00 am to service time at the church. Burial will take place at Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery, Davenport.