David Lee Dooley

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — David Lee Dooley, 75, Sioux City, Iowa died Nov. 13, 2021, unexpectedly at his home.

Celebration of Life will be held from 1:30-3 p.m. April 9, at Christy-Smith Funeral Homes, Family Resource Center, Sioux City, Iowa.

David continued to assist others by being a tissue donor following his passing.

David, the son of Alfred E. and Margaret (Ingram) Dooley, was born October 14, 1946, in Parkersburg, W.Va. David spent his early years in Omaha, then moved to Hartington, where he graduated from Hartington High School in 1964. In 1968, Dave graduated from Wayne State College, Cum Laude with honors in chemistry. He married Virginia “Ginny” Crombie Aug. 16, 1968, in Hartington. The couple had three sons, Nicholas, Christopher and Michael. Dave began his teaching career at Coleridge Community High School in 1968, and taught there until 1977. He received the Nebraska Teacher of the Year award in 1977 while teaching at Coleridge. Dave received his master of science degree in chemistry from Bowling Green State University in 1973. In the fall of 1977, he began teaching Chemistry at Platte Tech College, Columbus. In 1979, the family moved to Sioux City, and Dave began his career as a chemist for IPS (now MidAmerican Energy). He retired in 2011.

Dave’s hobbies included spending time with family, rebuilding a 1952 Ford PU, researching history on Cedar County, for his Facebook page, collecting 1950s and 1960s music, and connecting with special friends in Hartington to reminisce of old times. Dave was a member of the American Chemical Society.

Dave is survived by his wife, Ginny; sons, Nick (Shera) Dooley, Chris (Carla) Dooley and Mike Dooley; grandchildren, Richanna James, Amelia, Chloe and Damond Dooley; sister, Karen Hochstein; sisters-in-law, Marlene Crombie and Wanda Crombie; half-brother, John; three step siblings; many nieces and nephews; and his father-in-law and his mother-in-law.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Sue Haberman; three brothers-in-law; half-brother, Dee; step father and step mother.