March 29, 2024

Dorothy Peak

Creston

Dorothy Peak, 100, of Creston died Oct. 13, 2014, at her home in Creston.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at Pearson Family Funeral Service, 809 W. Montgomery St. The Rev. Kenneth Halbur Jr. will officiate. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. Open visitation will be 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to Holy Spirit Catholic Church and or Creston Public Schools. Online condolences may be left at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

Dorothy Marie Peak, daughter of Vlasta Hlava (Blazek) and James J. Kralik, was born April 1, 1914, near Nevinville in Adams County.

Dorothy graduated from Nevinville Consolidated School in 1932. Dorothy received a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University in the mid-1930s, with additional college credits from the University of Iowa, Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI) and Kansas University.

Her first teaching position after graduation was teaching in Nevinville. She later taught in Bridgewater and Calmar (near Decorah) before accepting the home economics teaching position in the Creston School District in 1940.

On Sept. 16, 1941, Dorothy married Edward L. Peak at Holy Spirit Rectory in Creston.

Dorothy was a home economics teacher at Creston High School for almost 40 years. She retired in 1978. In her teaching career, Dorothy instituted a new course of study into the CHS curriculum called “Bachelor Living.”

After retirement, Dorothy was one of the first people involved in organizing Green Valley Hospice and she continued to help with fundraisers and telephone calls over the years.

Dorothy was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Catholic Council of Women, P.E.O., NEA and NHEA. She volunteered at Green Valley Hospice and Greater Regional Hospital Auxiliary. Dorothy was inducted into the Creston High School Hall of Fame in 2006.

Dorothy is survived by her nephew Larry Kralik and Leola Kralik and family of Creston; nieces, Linda (Dean) Westergaard and family of Adel; and Jane (Steve) Knutsen of West Des Moines; two cousins; and other relatives and friends.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, son, James, brother Roy Kralik, sister-in-law Velma Kralik and nephew Jerry Kralik.