Donna Wessel

Donna Marie Wessel, 74, a resident of Bettendorf unexpectedly departed this earth on December 7, 2011. She is reunited with her loving husband Earl, and is with her Heavenly Father. Funeral services to celebrate her life will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, December 12, 2011 at St. James Lutheran Church, 1705 Oak Street, Bettendorf, Iowa. Burial will follow in Davenport Memorial Park. Visitation will be Sunday from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home, 614 Main Street, downtown Davenport. Donna was born April 8, 1937 in Davenport, Iowa the daughter of Walt and Frieda Schulz Lambach. She graduated from Davenport High School and furthered her education at the University of Iowa. She was united in marriage to Earl John Wessel on February 28, 1956 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Grinnell, Iowa. He preceded her in death January 25, 2008. Donna along with her husband Earl owned and operated Walt Lambach, Inc. – her father's business, a fire protection sales and service company until selling it in 2003. Along with her husband she was also owner of Wessel Properties. In her younger years Donna was very active in Scott County Young Republicans. She was a member of the former Davenport Club and currently belonged to the Outing Club. She was a member of the Putnam Museum, Friends of VanderVeer Park, Gyrettes Club, PEO, Questers and Junior League. Donna was a longtime member of St. James Lutheran Church in Bettendorf where she served in the Altar Guild. Donna enjoyed traveling and was very fortunate to have been able to visit many worldwide destinations via cruise ships with her beloved husband Earl. Almost every year since 1965 Donna would take her family to the Gulf coast beaches for a spring vacation continuing to do so in recent years with all the grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. James Lutheran Church, Friends of VanderVeer Park or Wire Fox Terrier Rescue MidWest. Those left to honor her memory are her three children and their spouses: Brent (Kim) Wessel of Davenport, IA, Tracy (David) Johnson of Shorewood MN and Molly (Mark) Meyer of Davenport, IA; eight loving grandchildren, Nicole and Lindsey Wessel, Amelia, Annalise and Abigail Johnson and Nicholas, Fritz and Benjamin Meyer; sister and brother in laws Edith and Doug Hiler and Donna and Fred Wessel; as well as many extended family and dear friends; and her loyal canine companion Lilly, a wire hair fox terrier. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 51 years, Earl, and her parents. May they rest in peace.