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Dona Petsel
DONA PETSEL
West Branch
Dona Petsel, formerly of West Branch, joined her eternal family Oct. 19, 2016. Services will be Saturday morning, Oct. 22, at First Church United, West Liberty. Visitation begins at 10 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Dona will be laid to rest in Memory Gardens Cemetery, Iowa City.
Memorials may be made to First Church United.
Dona Mae Taylor was born Nov. 11, 1926, in Cedar Rapids to her parents, Herb and Gail (Walters) Taylor. She was an accomplished tap dancer, winning a local competition, earning the opportunity to compete regionally. Dona attended school in Iowa City and was a proud graduate of City High's Class of 1945. City High was where she met the love of her life, Bob (George Robert) Petsel. They married in Santa Ana, Calif. (Nov. 7, 1947) and returned home to farm east of Iowa City.
Dona worked as a long distance operator for Northwestern Bell and worked at Sears until she retired. She was a 4-H and Girl Scout leader, served on the Johnson County 4-H Youth Committee, delivered mail to patients at Mercy Hospital, was a member of First Church United and South Prairie Grange, where Dona and Bob were named Grange Couple of the Year in 1961.
Dona was loved by many, including her daughters, Deb Petsel (Michele McVey) of Iowa City, Teri Dotson (Jim) of Wilton and Jill Petsel of Saint Paul, Minn.; grandchildren, Nicole Skubal, Justin Dotson, Angela Dotson, Martin Skubal, Robert Dotson, Ashley Dillinger (Travis) and David Dotson (Maria); eight great- grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; a sister-in-law, Diane Hertel of Iowa City; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her parents; her sister, Doris Bishop and her husband, Victor; father- and mother-in-law, George and Beatrice Petsel; sister-in-law, Dorothy Petsel; brother-in-law, Joe Petsel, his wife, Mary, and his daughter, Louise; sister-in-law, Beth Tammes, and her sons, Eric and Richard; brother-in-law, Duane Petsel; brother-in-law, Ron Hertel; niece, Joy Blair, and her infant son, Brian.
The family deeply appreciates Iowa City Hospice, Oaknoll Assisted Living and Care Center nurses, certified nursing assistants and support staff for wrapping mom in love and making these last days comfortable for Dona and her family.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.
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