Donna Meade Dahn

Donna Meade Dahn

Aurora, Colo.

Donna Jean Dahn of Aurora, Colo., formerly of Cedar Rapids and Oxford Junction, Iowa, passed away peacefully at the Morningstar Senior Care Living facility in Aurora due to failing health on May 8, 2023, at the grand old age of 94.

Her physical presence will be missed every minute of every day but her loving, caring, compassionate spirit will be held dearly in the hearts of everyone who knew and will love her eternally. It really was a large umbrella to find room under for her close-knit family and the innumerable friends she made a long the way in what was, in its humble wholesomeness, a truly remarkable life.

Donna was born on Sept. 15, 1928, in Anamosa, Iowa, the first of three daughters raised by Douglas and Ruth Meade of Oxford Junction, Iowa. She spent the first 18 years of her life living under the outside hardships brought by the Great Depression and World War II but she managed to thrive thanks to a large, loving family environment in a spot of town called Oxford Mills.

She spent her childhood living on the fried catfish that her dad caught in the nearby Wapsipinicon River, and the fried chicken and fresh vegetables her mom raised in the backyard. Yes, lard was a wonderful thing back in the day.

Donna was a proud, gracious and pretty lady, one who always made sure she dressed appropriately for the occasion; she always dressed for dinner and especially enjoyed her weekly hair appointment. Donna always looked her best and insisted on applying her own makeup right up until she had trouble holding her mirror.

After graduating from Oxford Junction High School in 1946, Donna went to work as a secretary at Dearborn Brass Co. in Cedar Rapids. She married Gaylon Dahn of Lisbon on August 30, 1952, a marriage that lasted 58 years until Gay’s death in 2010.

Never afraid of a new challenge, Donna was accepted into Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids in 1970, at the age of 42. She earned her B.A. in education and went on to teach fifth grade at Grant Wood Elementary School (CR) for 15 years, endearing herself to hundreds of youngsters along the way.

She eventually moved to Aurora to be close to her grandchildren and continued to teach for several more years in the Denver area before retiring to become the best grandma the world has seen (while also maintaining her title as best mom); she was delighted at the arrival of her three great grandchildren, who were always at their best behavior when they got to see “gramma.”

Donna was an avid reader and a gardener of flowers who especially loved long walks. During her final weeks, a hospice worker asked her what her goal was should she be released, and she replied: “I want to walk two miles.”

She belonged to the United Methodist Church of Aurora and was active in several women’s groups, including the American Association of University Women.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Doug and Ruth Meade; her husband, Gaylon; and her son-in-law, David Conner.

She is survived by two sisters, Maxine (Puzz) Homan, California and Pat Hansen, Iowa; a daughter, Teri Conner Dahn, Colorado; and two sons, Jeff Dahn, Iowa, and Dave (Rebecca) Dahn Wisconsin.

She is also survived by her beloved granddaughter, Ashton (Jorge Sotelo) Conner, Colorado; grandson, Gavin Connor, Colorado; and great-grandchildren, Magnolia, Javier and Olivia Sotelo.

It was Donna Jean’s wish to be cremated and she was celebrated during an intimate family service at Parker Funeral Home, Colorado, on June 6.