Doteen Loray Dessel

Doteen Loray Dessel, age 62, of Madrid, Iowa, passed away suddenly, surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at UnityPoint Health – Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, Perry Chapel, located at 1721 Park Street, Perry, Iowa 50220. Memorial contributions may be directed to her daughter, Crystal Heckart, and mailed to the funeral home in Doteen’s name. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.

Doteen was born on January 29, 1963, in Des Moines, Iowa, her parents were LeRoy and Gale (Smith) Peterson.

She was employed as a dietitian at The Cedars Assisted Living in Madrid. Doteen had a deep love for Harley motorcycles and especially enjoyed riding with her life partner, Scott. Together, they owned custom bikes and frequently attended motorcycle and car shows, riding their motorcycles everywhere they went.

Doteen loved nature and the outdoors, particularly camping and hosting grill-outs; especially her cherished Fourth of July gatherings spent surrounded by family and friends. She enjoyed her morning coffee, was an avid collector of dolphins and gnomes, and admittedly spent far too much money on crossword puzzles.

Above all else, Doteen loved her family and her grandchildren. Making memories with them brought her the greatest joy, and she truly lived for her grandchildren.

She is survived by her children: Crystal Heckart (Kolby) of Perry; Hydi Dessel (James) of Polk City; Heather Dessel of Lincoln, Nebraska; and Roy Hein (Lindsay) of Boone; grandchildren: Nathan Danielson of Polk City, Chelsie Whitehead (Cody) of Altoona, Christi Danielson, Skyler Carter of Polk City, Brayden Heckart of Perry, Natalie Tarter of Polk City, Hayzel Gruwell of Polk City, Harleigh Hein of Boone, and Ryder Hein of Boone; several great-grandchildren; her life partner, Scott Hein of Perry; her mother, Gale Peterson of Madrid; her mother-in-law, Sarah Hein of Perry; along with a host of extended family members and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, LeRoy Peterson, and her father-in-law, Larry Hein.