Doris Marie Gommels

Doris Marie Gommels, age 88, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on March 10, 2026. Born on March 16, 1937, at home in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Louis and Marie (Crouse) Steckelberg, she graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High School. In July of 1956, she married Darrel Gommels.

Doris worked as bookkeeping supervisor at First American Bank from 1977 until her retirement in December 1999. A lifelong person of faith, she was an active member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge, where she taught Sunday school, participated in the Ladies group, and devoted fifteen years to Evangelism, which she considered among the most meaningful work of her life. After Darrel’s retirement, the couple moved to Cedar Rapids, where they formed many close friendships at their condo and at their new church home, Zion Lutheran Church.

She found great joy in sewing, especially making quilts for her grandchildren, playing cards with friends, and sharing coffee with neighbors and loved ones. Doris was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend whose warmth and quiet faithfulness left a lasting impression on all who knew her.

She is survived by her son, Glen (Christi) Gommels of Phoenix, Arizona; her daughters, Debbie (Al) Kitt of Hastings, Minnesota, Dawn (Mike) Thomas of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Drenda (Scott) Curtis of Fort Dodge, Iowa; ten grandchildren, Renae (Jaime) Finely, Sarah (Terry) Mielke, Kayla Kitt, Trevor (Cara) Thomas, Whitney (Matt) Hinz, Amanda (Jeff) Cooling, Taylor (Chad) Burns, Gage Gommels, Ashlyn Gommels, and Demetria Buenting; her great-grandchildren, Phillip, Leo, Amara, Clara, Margaret, Henry, Rowan, Keira, and Jonathan; her step-grandchildren, Tiera (Cody) Miller, Kristen (Josh) Rogers, and Zain Curtis; her step great-grandchildren, Connor, Colton, Winter, Carson, and Madelyn; her sisters, Charlotte Sherman, Georgia Moonie, and Jeanette (Ron) Utley; and her sister-in-law, Louellen Steckelberg.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Darrel Gommels; her parents, Louis and Marie Steckelberg; her brothers, Marion and Richard; and many other beloved brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.