Theresa Sullivan

Theresa Marie (Dieter) Sullivan was born May 16, 1925, in Vail, Iowa to Leonard and Mae (Lynch) Dieter. She was baptized and confirmed in St. Ann's Catholic Church and attend St. Ann's School in Vail, Iowa were she graduated as Valedictorian in 1943. Theresa married Robert "Bob" Sullivan on October 11, 1945, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison, Iowa. The couple farmed and raised 16 children. She was also active in the church and community. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters (St. Monica's Court) and active with Cursillo retreats. Theresa and Bob were involved in starting the Teens Encounter Christ retreats in the Des Moines Diocese and the Residents Encounter Christ prison ministries at ICIW in Mitchellville. They joined the deaconate community in the Des Moines Dioceses where Bob was ordained in 1977. Theresa and Bob attended Western Iowa Tech together and graduated (Cum Laude) with degrees in business management in 1985. Theresa ran for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and made numerous friends across the state. She was the office manager at the Earling Elevator from 1985-1996 and in 2002, the couple moved to Woodbine.

Theresa also had a love of making homemade bread, cinnamon rolls, strawberry rhubarb jam, brownies, net balls, and denim quilts. She truly embodied the teachings about the love of faith and family.

Theresa died October 20, 2012, at the Rose Vista Nursing Home in Woodbine at the age of 87 years, 5 months, and 4 days.

Theresa was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters Clarita Rocky, Lillian Dieter, and Elizabeth Fitzsimmons; two brothers, Cyril Dieter and Leonard Dieter; daughter-in-law, Barb Sullivan; and two grandchildren, Paul Edward Sullivan and Joshua John Klein. She is survived by her husband, Bob Sullivan of Woodbine, IA; 16 children, Mary Sadaj of Butte, MT, Bob (Marianne) Sullivan of Woodbine, IA, Ed Sullivan of Woodbine, IA, Margie Sullivan of Urbandale, IA, Cathy Claiborne of Colorado Springs, CO, Tim (Joan) Sullivan of De Smet, SD, Colleen (Kirk) Caufield of Montrose, CO, Tom (Mary Ann) Sullivan of Dunlap, IA, Theresa (Dennis) Gengler of Lincoln, NE, Phil (Betty) Sullivan of Bernard, IA, Frank (Mary) Sullivan of Maple Lake, MN, Rose (Harry Ingram) Villasana of Dallas, TX, Marie (Dennis) Mabie of Altoona, IA, Monica (Bill) Baldwin of Longmont, CO, Sam (Terri) Sullivan of Winterset, IA, Christine Sullivan; 39 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; three sisters Margret Maiefski, Mary Catherine Goodrich, Mary G. Laney; two brothers, Dr. Frank Dieter, Fr. Xavier Dieter, O.S.S.O.; and many other relatives and friends.