Jacqueline Erbe

April 6, 1921 - February 16, 2009

Jacqueline Doran Erbe, age 88, passed away at her home in Des Moines on February 4, 2009, from complications of Parkinson’s disease. Jackie was the widow of the late Governor Norman A. Erbe and the daughter of state senator and attorney Lant Doran and DeElda Doran of Boone. She was preceded in death by her brothers Dr. John Doran of Ames and Bill Doran of Boone. Born in Boone, Iowa on April 6, 1921, Jackie graduated from Boone High School in 1939 and earned a political science degree from the State University of Iowa in Iowa City. In 1942 she married her high school sweetheart while he was serving in the Army Air Corps as a B-17 pilot in World War II. Upon completion of his tour of duty, the couple returned to Boone where they raised three daughters. Mrs. Erbe was a valuable asset in her husband’s political career, which included two terms as Iowa Attorney General before Norman Erbe was elected Governor in 1961. During her lifetime of public service, Mrs. Erbe devoted her time and enthusiasm to numerous groups including Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, Chapter HT of P.E.O., the Iowa Antique Association, the Terrace Hill Society, the Iowa State Historical Society, Grace Episcopal Church and the Historical Museum of Boone. Upon their retirement to Boone in the late 1970s, Jackie wrote a popular column in the Boone News Republican, “A Pinch of Salt.” Jackie is survived by her three daughters, DeElda Wittmack of Des Moines, Jennifer Wilson of San Francisco, and Kevin Sisson of Chevy Chase, Maryland. Also surviving are her grandchildren Justine (Timur) Beriker of Hailey, Idaho, Ellen (Erling) Donnelly of Stonington, Connecticut, Charlie (Catherine) Wittmack of Des Moines, and Henry and Jacqueline Sisson of Chevy Chase and five great-grandchildren , Hanna Pearl Beriker, Willa Rose Beriker, Caroline Wittmack Donnelly, Ava June Beriker and Charles James Wittmack. Memorial contributions may be made to the Boone County Historical Museum, 602 Story Street, Boone, Iowa 50036 A memorial service for Jackie will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday morning, February 16th at the Grace Episcopal Church in Boone.