Memorial

Dorothy Arlene “Dodo” Morehouse was born on May 15, 1933, in a farmhouse near Paris, Iowa. She went to be with Jesus on May 22, 2026, after recently celebrating her 93rd birthday. Our family is deeply grateful to the hospice staff and nurses at St. Lukes hospital. The care, love and service they give is the best around.

As a young girl, Dorothy’s family moved from Springville to a farm south of Lisbon. She attended country grade school and graduated from Lisbon High School as the 1951 valedictorian. She played basketball, sang, acted in plays, and taught herself the piano and guitar. Dorothy caught the eye of young Donald Ciha who was living on a farm, one mile to the west. The story goes that local farmer Lloyd Kohl loaned out Don, a hired farmhand, to go work at the Lance Morehouse farm since Lance’s family was new to the area. After meeting Lance’s daughter, Don knew that Dorothy would be his bride, though she wasn’t as sure as he was! Don and Dorothy married June 12, 1951, and she passed away just days before celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary. 

To this union were born six children: Steven (Vicki), Brian (Roberta), Gregory (Jenny), Kevin (Lisa), Jeffrey, and Marcia (Matt). Dorothy was blessed with grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews whom she loved very much. 

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Lance and Maxine Morehouse, her sons Gregory and Jeffrey, and her sister and brother-in law Joanne and Melvin Svec. 

Dorothy was a country girl at heart, though they lived in Marion for 15 years after Don finished serving in the navy. They eventually moved back to Paris, Iowa, where they lived together in their new house built by Don and his sons. She loved the flower gardens, the owls that would hatch in the hollow tree by the deck, and the various wildlife running across the lawn. She was an incredible cook, who was known for her kolaches, pies, breads, and strawberry shortcake. We all agree, Mom’s kolaches are the best kolaches around! She loved to play card games and scrabble. She was tough to beat as she knew all the words and she was very smart. She was a natural born hostess who loved entertaining. Her favorite was a fall family/church hayrack ride each October. She loved it when her whole family gathered to celebrate holidays, especially getting together for the Mother’s Day gathering of family, which was often near her birthday, so a double party! She loved a good garage sale, convinced she could find anything if she went to enough of them. She loved finding a good bargain. She passed on this love to many of her kids and grandkids who will continue to bargain hunt in her honor.

Her faith in Jesus Christ was the center of her life. Don and Dorothy began attending Cedar Rapids Grace Church in the early 1960’s and have been members ever since. She was the church pianist from 1970 until very recently, taking time to practice each day. She also spent time in prayer and reading the Bible, always with the goal of reading the entire Bible once a year. She was a prayer warrior who kept her family, friends, and many others constantly in her prayers. 

She was a wonderfully loving mother that did everything she could possibly do to take care of her children and their families. She was deeply loved and will be missed by all that knew her. 

Visitation Monday, June 1, 2026, 9:00 am until 11:00 am Funeral Service at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories in Cedar Rapids. A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the funeral home website under the obituary for Dorothy Ciha, under the video tab starting at 11:00 am on Monday, June 1, 2026.    Dorothy will be laid to rest at 2:00 pm at the Blodgett Cemetery in Central City.