Donna Parsons

Donna Parsons passed away on Monday, May 22, 2023 at Bickford Senior Living while under hospice care.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 6 from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. at First United Methodist Church in Marshalltown followed by funeral services at 11:00 A.M. Burial will take place after the funeral at the Garwin Union Cemetery. Memorials can be directed to the family for later designation. Mitchell Family Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of Donna and her family. For questions or condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Born Donna Mae Dixon on May 19, 1933, in Garwin, she was the daughter of Oliver (Jack) Lee and Wanda Fern (Shelton) Dixon. She graduated from Garwin High School in 1950 where she played basketball for the Garwin Roughriders. She was a finalist in 1949 and 1950 in the state free throw contests, which were held in conjunction with the State Girls’ Basketball tournament. She brought home plaques for each year. She also worked at the town drugstore. After graduation, she moved to Marshalltown and worked at Dunham-Bush in the payroll department.

On January 11, 1953, she was united in marriage to Wendell Lyle Parsons at Garwin EUB Church. They made their home near Garwin and later moved to a farm near Toledo. In 1963 they moved to Marshalltown where she was a homemaker until she started working at the Iowa Veterans Home as a custodial worker from August 10, 1976, to April 27, 1990.

In their early married years, Donna and Wendell enjoyed their monthly card club with three other couples, and of course all the kids, especially the time camping during the summer months. After retiring Donna and Wendell enjoyed traveling by car or plane. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles, bowling, coffee club, reading detective novels, and working on jigsaw puzzles.

She was a current member of the First United Methodist Church in Marshalltown.

Left to cherish her memory are her four daughters: Sue (Randy “Harry”) Ferriss, Patricia, Wendy, and Ann (Evaldo) Teixeira all of Marshalltown; three sons: Lyle of Perry, IA, Kevin (Danielle) of Marysville, WA, and Todd of Marshalltown; seven grandchildren Natanya, Brandon, Brett Parsons (Blakeley) and Joshua, Jonah (Jolene) both of Marshalltown, Jordan of Tiffin, IA, and Wellington Teixeira of Hollywood FL; six great-grandchildren (Mason, Emma, Charlotte, Hank, Caleb, Cayden) and a boy due in August; and, a sister, Mary Abbe from Marshalltown, brother Paul Dixon (Susan) from Mason City, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents (Oliver and Wanda), husband (Wendell), son (Lynn Alan), sister (Jean Van Horn Massey), and brother (Dale).

- Lovingly written by the family