Donna Mae Ankenbauer, age 90, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, July 3, 2024 at the Manning Regional Healthcare Center in Manning, Iowa.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dedham. The Celebrant will be Fr. Patrick Behm assisted by Deacon Louis Meiners. Music will be by Cindy Bauer and the St. Joseph’s Choir. Lector will be Julie Greving. Gift Bearers will be the Mike and Lizzy Heinrichs Family. Eucharistic Minister will be Linda Sporrer. Casket bearers will be Joshua Halterman, Zachary Halterman, Nathaniel Halterman, Daniel Halterman, Travis Hilgenberg, Trevor Hilgenberg, Tyler Hilgenberg, Tiffany Fatka, and Lukas Volman. Burial will be in the Newton Township Cemetery near Dedham.
A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll. A Rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to St. Joseph’s Church on Wednesday morning where visitation will resume from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.
In lieu of flowers donations will be distributed to Donna’s favorite charitable organizations.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Donna’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Donna was born on January 24, 1934, a daughter of Leo and Hilda (Underberg) Stangl. She graduated from St. Joseph’s School in Dedham in 1948, and later St. Angela’s Academy in Carroll in 1952.
On January 24, 1952, Donna married her high school sweetheart, Dean Ankenbauer in Ogden, Iowa. They were married by Fr. Koester who grew up in Dedham, and was a former neighbor of the Stangl family. They raised three loving daughters in their Dedham home: Rae, Gae, and Kay.
Dean and Donna opened Donna’s Café on September 21, 1958. Many memories and stories abound regarding the café. They enjoyed making people laugh and making sure no one went away hungry. They worked hard and long hours as Donna’s was open seven days a week. Donna’s Café was sold in 1985 due to Dean’s health. Donna provided the very best of care for Dean until his passing on May 24, 1988.
After Dean’s death, Donna enrolled in the nursing program at DMACC in Carroll. She graduated from DMACC as a Registered Nurse. She was employed as an RN at the Village Clinic in Coon Rapids for 15 years. She retired from there in 2005 and then worked part time for McFarland Clinic in Carroll.
A life well lived sums up Donna’s life. She enjoyed bowling, golfing, traveling, cooking, baking and most of all her family and friends. She enjoyed helping others as well. She was a generous woman who loved people. In 1998 she was presented the Governor’s Volunteer Award. She was always proud to call Dedham home. She assisted with the Dedham Centennial, the Dedham, Quasquicentennial, and the St. Joseph Centennial books. She belonged to the St. Joseph Parish and guild, Legion Auxiliary, and was a lifetime member of the Dedham Booster Club.
Most of all Donna loved her family. She truly believed they were all perfect, even though they knew they weren’t. One of her favorite sayings was “I love my girls”. She will be dearly missed by many but she left us with many cherished memories.
Left to celebrate her life are her daughters, Rae (Dan) Halterman of Lake View, Gae (Ric) Hilgenberg of Avoca, and Kay (Steven) Volman of Grand Junction, CO. Nine grandchildren: Josh (Reanna), Zach (Nicki), Nat (Jennifer Diggers), Daniel (Holly Nicely) Halterman, Travis (Kim), Trevor (Tia), Tyler (Brooke) Hilgenberg, Tiffany (Matt) Fatka, and Lukas Volman; 19 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren; two sisters: Linda (Harlan) Sedivey of Omaha, and Marilyn Stangl (Frank Matulich) of Bellevue, WA. Two sisters-in-law: Judy Ankenbauer of Dedham, and Diane (Ray) Kitt of Dedham; a brother-in-law: Harry (Betty) Ankenbauer of Milford, MI, as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.
Donna was preceded in death by her husband Dean, parents, Leo and Hilda Stangl; brothers: Anthony (infancy), Billy Lee (infancy), Robert (Rosie) Stangl; parents-in-law: Bernard and Freda Ankenbauer; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Doug (Cleo) Ankenbauer, Robert Ankenbauer, Linda (Lloyd) Robinson.
