Lila Lee Drollinger

Lila Lee Drollinger passed away on March 27th, 2025. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am on April 14, 2025, at Ankeny Funeral Home. A visitation luncheon will follow from 12:00pm to 3:00pm.

Lila Lee (Campbell) Drollinger was born August 27, 1931, in Fort Dodge, Iowa to parents Guy and Ethel Campbell. She attended Fort Dodge Schools and graduated in 1949. That same year, she married Delbert Walker, and the couple had three children – Rodney, Joel, and Paula. They later divorced in 1974. In 1977, Lila met and married Ralph Drollinger, and she gained three more children—Judith, Leslie, and Kimberly.

Lila worked at the Fort Dodge Laboratories for 25 years. She enjoyed her job, her co-workers, and her time as a union steward. Lila believed very strongly in hard work and excellence in everything she did.

Lila was the heart of her home and welcomed everyone with a hot cup of coffee and a great meal. She loved caring for her beautiful flower gardens, nurturing her grandchildren, and just being there for anyone who needed a friend.

Lila is survived by five of her children, Judith Lynne, Leslie (Mark) Stratmoen, Joel (Brenda) Walker, Paula (Mark) Gawtry, and Kimberly (Paul) Cantieri; daughter-in-law Debbie Walker; and many grandchildren and great- grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Drollinger; her parents; her seven siblings; her son Rodney Walker; and grandchildren Matthew Stiles and Joelle Walker.

We will miss her sweet face and her spirit of always looking on the bright side of life.