Doris Chabel

Doris Chabel (age 93) of Grundy Center, Iowa, died of cancer on 6/15/2026 at the Grundy Care Center.

Born at her family farm on May 9, 1933, Doris was the daughter of Ray and Minnie (Dahms) Hooper. She graduated from Gladbrook High School in 1950 and worked in the office at the Central Iowa Bean Mill in Gladbrook prior to attending Iowa State Teachers College. Doris earned her teaching certificate in 1954 and began teaching in the upper elementary grades in the Grundy Center School District. She continued work on her Bachelor of Arts Degree, which she earned in 1970. She taught school for 35 years in Grundy Center.

On March 27, 1954, she was united in marriage to Robert Chabel. Two children were born to this union, Robert Jr., and Janelle.

Doris was a member of the Cornerstone Methodist Church in Grundy Center. She taught Sunday school there and served on several committees. At the time of her death, she was a member of the Eastern Star and Grundy Center Garden Club. She had previously been a member of Woman's Club.

Favorite pastimes of hers were gardening, reading, working crosswords and sudoku, refinishing furniture, and bird watching. She enjoyed her four granddaughters when they came to visit and followed them in their sports and musical events whenever possible. 

Doris is survived by her daughter, Jan Larson (Jeff) of Austin, Texas; daughter-in-law Shari Chabel of Iowa City; granddaughters Chole Chabel of Salem, Oregon; Grace Chabel of Iowa City, Iowa; Hannah Herron (Tyler) of Dallas, Texas, Rae Larson of Austin, Texas. She is also survived by siblings George Hooper and Phyllis Moeller. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bob; her son, Rob; and siblings Jim Hooper, Maxine Schoel, and Lois Dierks.

Inurnment services will be held later at Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Iowa.