Hartley Resident Doreen Spoo, 68, Donates Body to Science

No formal services will be held as Spoo's body is donated to further medical research.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Doreen Spoo, a 68-year-old resident of Hartley, Iowa, has passed away and donated her body to science. No formal funeral services will be held, with the Geelan Funeral Home in Spencer assisting the family.

Why it matters

Body donation is an increasingly common practice that helps advance medical research and education, though it remains a personal choice that not all families opt for. Hartley is a small rural community where such arrangements may be less common.

The details

Doreen Spoo's body has been donated to science, forgoing any formal funeral services. The Geelan Funeral Home in the nearby city of Spencer is assisting Spoo's family with the arrangements.

  • Doreen Spoo passed away on February 23, 2026.

The players

Doreen Spoo

A 68-year-old resident of Hartley, Iowa who has donated her body to science.

Geelan Funeral Home

A funeral home in Spencer, Iowa that is assisting Doreen Spoo's family with the arrangements.

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The takeaway

Doreen Spoo's choice to donate her body to science highlights the growing acceptance of this practice, even in smaller rural communities, as a way to advance medical research and education.