Dora Oitzman

After a remarkable 93 years of life, Dora Oitzman passed peacefully on October 29, 2026, in Mesa, Arizona, joining her beloved husband, Don Oitzman, at “Nana’s Cantina” on the 19th hole in heaven. There to welcome her with open arms, embellished stories, and requests for biscuits and gravy were her parents Virgil W. and Reba Homer, brothers Virgil and Tom Homer, son Troy Miller, and grandson Brandon Lasch.

Born in Childress, Texas on July 28, 1933, Dora moved frequently, attending schools in Wyoming, Iowa, Kansas, and finally landing in Aredale, Iowa where she graduated from nearby Dumont High School in 1951. Shortly after graduation, Dora began working at Farmer’s Hybrid as a keypunch operator in Hampton, Iowa—those were the early days of data entry when computers were still a novelty and took up entire rooms. Just a few months later, her mother died, leaving behind four orphaned children. Despite the many moves--prompted by the death of her father, her mother’s remarriage, birth of another brother, Mike Creeden, the death of her step-father, and now the death of her mother--Dora developed a resiliency and persistence to thrive.

In 1953, Dora married Gene Miller in Dumont, Iowa. For the next 25 years, she supported all things associated with farm life and they adopted son, Troy, and daughter, Lisa. Dora yearned for work outside the confines of farming and when the marriage dissolved, she began working for Don Oitzman’s local construction business. As their working relationship became personal, they decided to begin a new life in Arizona where they married on March 15, 1980. The subsequent 33 years, with the earthly ending occurring upon Don’s death in 2013, were filled with a soul-mate love, joint success in a booming construction industry, travel throughout the U.S. and abroad, and loving embraces for all their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. At the heart of it was a place called home, where family and friends—no matter how you got there—gathered in fellowship, ate delicious food, shared countless hugs, and maybe drank a glass of wine.

Dora is survived by her daughter, Lisa Lasch, Pflugerville, TX, sons Doug (Glenda), Queen Creek, AZ, Jeff (Janet), Gilbert, AZ, and Tim (Molly), Westlake, TX, as well as cherished friend, David Dean. Six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren also mourn the loss of their beloved Nana.

Dora will join Don in eternal travel and rest during a private family interment at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery in Mesa, Arizona on November 23, 2026, followed by a final tribute to Nana’s Cantina. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Hospice of the Valley or your favorite charity.