Donna Dodds
Donna Dodds
Donna Dodds
November 26, 1933 – January 18, 2024
Donna Dodds, 90, of Des Moines and formerly Ottumwa and Geneseo, Illinois, passed away Thursday, January 18, 2024, at UnityPoint Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Donna Dee Dodds, daughter of Millard James and Myrtle Glenore (Shaw) Maxted, was born November 26, 1933, in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
She was a 1951 graduate of Oskaloosa High School.
As a young woman, Donna worked at Smart and Thrifty as a graphic artist, at the Oskaloosa Telephone Company, and later at Younkers in the notions department.
On April 19, 1952, she married David R. Halblom in Oskaloosa, where they made their home until moving the family to Ottumwa in 1958.
While raising her family, Donna worked at Duree Studio as a retouch artist and packaging clerk. She was also a Tupperware representative and worked at Younkers during Christmas.
December 29, 1967, Donna married Lester H. Dodds at the Lutheran Church in Moline.
Due to Lester’s work with John Deere, they made their home in Geneseo. Donna helped Lester manage their family recreation facility in Geneseo and traveled in the area doing reflexology. Lester and Donna returned to Ottumwa in 2007. He passed away on July 28, 2014.
Donna moved to Ramsey Village in Des Moines to be closer to her children. In her free time, Donna enjoyed using her artistic talents in oil painting, sewing, and quilting.
Her family includes her children, David J. (Susan) Halblom, Sr. of Des Moines, and Diane Kay (Robert) Todd of Stevens Point, WI; and a stepson, Kendall – deceased – (Marilyn) Dodds of Des Moines; nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother, Jim (Jody) Maxted of Marshalltown.
Funeral services for Donna will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 22, 2024, at Langkamp Funeral Chapel with Pastor Phil Griffith of Faith Baptist Church in Ottumwa officiating. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery. The family will greet visitors from 9:30 a.m. to service time on Monday.
