Donna Marie Boeckholt

A Funeral service for Donna will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, October 13, 2025, at Merle Hay Funeral Home, 4400 Merle Hay Rd, Des Moines IA, 50310, with a luncheon following. Visitation will be held there from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 12, 2025. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Mary of Nazareth Catholic Church or Shriners Hospital for Children.

Donna passed away peacefully Saturday, October 4, 2025 after a long battle with dementia. She was born on September 4, 1933 in Estherville, Iowa to parents Dan and Doris McGee. She had three sisters, Dolores, Denise and Dianne.

She was raised in Bancroft, Iowa and attended St. John's Catholic School where she graduated in 1951. In 1952 she married Harvey Boeckholt. They eventually made their way to the Des Moines area where Harvey built their home in Dogpatch. Donna was a homemaker raising four daughters and a son. She eventually returned to the work force at AIE Insurance Company and then worked for 17 years as the receptionist/switchboard operator for General Casualty Insurance before retiring in 1996.

She developed her love for movies, movie stars and musicals while working at the Bancroft theatre as a teenager. She especially loved John Wayne and old westerns. She loved to fish, play cards and playing bingo. She also loved to sing and participate in Bible class. She took great pride in keeping an immaculate home. She always looked forward to autumn which was her favorite season.

After retiring, Donna and Harvey traveled throughout the United States visiting many national parks and landmarks. One of her most notable trips was traveling to Ireland with her daughter Angie. Donna was a member of St. Mary of Nazareth Catholic Church for 58 years. She was also a long-time member of the women's VFW Auxiliary, Post #9127 in Beaverdale, Iowa. She served as patriotic instructor and enjoyed coordinating installation of flags and flag poles around the city. She also enjoyed luncheons with her Dogpatch lady friends.

Donna is survived by her husband of 73 years, Harvey, daughters Angela Stevenson (Kevin), Connie Hayes (Tom), Tina Eggers and Theresa Lynch. Grandchildren: Tommy, Vicki, Scotty, Rachel and Dominick Hayes, Nicholas Boeckholt, Mitch and Matt Eggers, Kelly, Maddie and Andy Lynch, Tomi Jo Day and Travis Limke, and 10 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Dianne Schiltz and brother-in-law Roger Wilhelmi as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Martin Dale Boeckholt, sons-in-law John Lynch and Scott Eggers, sisters Dolores Acela and Denise Wilhemi, brother and sisters-in-law Robert Acela, David Schiltz, Johnny Boeckholt, Dorothy Wubben, Edna and Paul Knowles, Harold Boeckholt, Don and Ruth Boeckholt, Elda and Orris Cushman, Elinor and Harry Burch and several nieces and nephews.

We'd like to thank the staff at Azria Health Winterset and Suncrest Hospice for caring for our mother throughout her illness.