Dorrance P. McDermott, 90, of Epworth, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, in Epworth, Iowa.

Visitation for Dorrance will be held from 2 to 7 p.m., on Monday, December 8, 2025, at the Reiff Funeral Home in Epworth, Iowa, where a wake service will be held at 1:30 p.m. The Epworth Volunteer Fire Department will meet at 6 p.m.  Visitation will also be held starting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday at the Funeral Home.

Services for Dorrance will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Epworth, Iowa, with Rev. Michael Schueller presiding and Rev. Steven Garner and Rev. Sam Cunningham concelebrating. Burial will be held in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Epworth with full Military Honors afforded by the Epworth American Legion Post #650 and the striking of the 4-5’s by the Epworth Fire Department.

He was born August 11, 1935, in Placid, Iowa, son of Cyril and Viola (Delaney) McDermott. He was a graduate of Epworth High School. On September 5, 1959, he was united in marriage to Verna Oberfoell at St. Patrick’s Church in Epworth, Iowa. He was employed at John Deere Dubuque Works for 28 years, until his retirement in 1994. He was an Army veteran, proudly serving in Germany from 1955 to 1957. This past summer, he received a Quilt of Valor recognizing his service.  He was a bus driver for the Western Dubuque School District for over 30 years and drove the WD band instrument bus all over the country. He was a dedicated member of Bobcat Nation and attended many events over the years.

He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Family was extremely important to him, and he always kept them covered in prayer. In your time of need, you could give Dorrance a call and he would move you to the top of his prayer list.

Dorrance was steward of the land. He grew up a farm boy and when he got married, he moved to town and planted and tended to a large garden. Many community members can say they ate his homegrown tomatoes or an ear of his sweet corn. There was always plenty to go around.

A true jack-of-all-trades and dedicated community servant, Dorrance gave generously of his time, talents, and treasures. He was a fireman for 25 years at the Epworth Volunteer Fire Department, sang in the Church choir, was an active member of CEW, and coached little league baseball. His interests were wide. You may remember him as a bow hunter, camper, Epworth Legion baseball player, softball player, woodworker, Euchre player, golfer, or yodeler. He loved to be outside in the woods, whether it was on a deer stand, chopping wood, or hunting for mushrooms. He made beautiful wood creations from trees that he logged, making shelves, cradles, clocks, and more. Dorrance was a hard-working man, always staying active, which kept him in good health.

He was a member of St. Patrick’s Parish in Epworth and attended mass daily, even when the weather was not permitting. His devotion to his faith was apparent to all; during his military service he served mass for the chaplain on the base and sponsored a fellow soldier to become Catholic. He was an advocate for the Divine Word Seminary; many sisters, priests, and brothers, could often be found visiting with him and Verna in their living room. His guiding principle was, “You don’t put the Lord on the shelf!” In his 90 years, Dorrance never did.

He is survived by his wife, Verna McDermott of Epworth; four children, Curt (Janice) McDermott and Craig (Kim) McDermott both of Cedar Rapids, Trisha Greenwood of Farley, and Brad (Julie) McDermott of Cedar Rapids; 12 grandchildren, Jill (Ryan) Saunders, Josh (Lindsey) McDermott, Jena McDermott, Grace (Mike) Johnson, and Logan McDermott, Anne Marie, Thomas, Mary Clare, James, and Eva Greenwood, Chloe and Max McDermott; three great-grandchildren, Wesley and Haley Saunders and Rowan McDermott; two sisters, Phyllis (Darris) Goerdt and Julie Casey; sisters-in-law, Kate McDermott and Marianne Burrell, a brother-in-law, Jim Brady; and a sister-in-law, Helen McDermott.

He is preceded in death by his parents; one infant son Martin “Marty” McDermott; one grandson, Riley McDermott in infancy; one sister, Mary Catherine McDermott in infancy; two brothers, Neal McDermott and Dennis McDermott; one sister and brother-in-law, Lois (John) Smith; one brother-in-law, Donnie Casey; his father and mother-in-law, Leroy and Marie Oberfoell; and his brothers and sisters-in-laws, Milton (Irene) Oberfoell, Ileen (Bill) Domas, Ione (Chuck) Engler, Leo “Mike” (Phyllis) Oberfoell, Francis “Ducky” (Jean) Oberfoell, and Patti Brady.

An online video may be viewed and online condolences may be sent to the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com