Doris Rouse

A Memorial Service for Doris Rouse, age 94, currently of Emmetsburg formerly of Ayrshire and Spirit Lake, will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 11:00am at the First United Methodist Church in Emmetsburg. Visitation will take place prior to the service from 10:00-11:00am at the church in Emmetsburg. Interment will be at Silver Lake Cemetery in Ayrshire. 

Doris passed away on June 16, 2026.

Doris was born on September 20, 1931, to Orin and Gretchen Kenyon in Moneta, IA. The family moved to Everly in 1944 where she completed her education and graduated in 1949. She worked at several restaurants as well as babysat during and after high school. She was employed at Arnold Motor Supply in Spencer for 7 years.

On February 10, 1957, she was married to Eugene Rouse at the Methodist Church in Spencer, IA. To this union five children were born. Jeffrey, Julie, Daniel, Jill and Jana. They farmed near Ayrshire, Iowa.

In 1978 Doris moved to Spirit Lake, IA. She was a sales representative and later manager for the Fuller Brush Co for many years. She had a booth at the Spencer Fair for twelve years. She also enjoyed doing in-home care and later was a sales representative for Furniture Outlet in Spirit Lake for seven years.

Doris was a member of the Methodist Church. She loved taking pictures of all occasions and has some 80 albums of her family, children, church, community, friends, and neighbors.

One of her greatest joys was family occasions and grandchildren activities as well as taking trips and cruises with family. Doris loved sending cards, making crafts and going to coffee with friends.

Doris is survived by her children: Jeff (Denise) Rouse of Fairmont, MN, Julie (Larry) Leners of Emmetsburg, IA, Jill Slinker of Peoria, AZ, Jana Waechter of Urbandale, IA. Grandchildren: Nicholas Leners, Alex (Erin) Leners, Talli Leners, Mackenzie (Wesley) Hall, Brandon Waechter and Samantha (Sal) Mastrey, step-grandchildren: Ben (Casey) Becker, Holly (Rick) Benson, Lacy Becker and Ashley Becker, also great-grandchild Orin Eugene Leners; and sister, Debbra Peterson of Spencer, IA. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Orin and Gretchen Kenyon and Stepmother Evelyn Kenyon, brother Roland Kenyon, Sister Betty Howe and son Daniel Bruce Rouse.