Donna Jean Hanold

Donna Jean Hanold, 70, of Urbandale, died after a courageous battle with lung cancer Thursday at the Taylor House Hospice of Des Moines. Mrs. Hanold was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and lived in central Iowa for most of her life. In 1968, Donna married Dick Hanold and they were blessed with over thirty years together. Donna was a kind, loving wife and the best of audiences to Dick's dry humor, and a loving and generous mother to their children. Dick and Donna were both avid readers and could be found with their noses buried in newspaper in the morning and in books most evenings. They loved to travel and were able to explore both as a couple and with their children. Donna loved spending time with close friends and family, celebrating birthdays, Thanksgiving, Easter and Christmas. Her language of love was gift-giving and she took this passion very seriously. She enjoyed dressing up and accompanying her grandchildren as they trick-or-treated with treasured neighbors at Halloween. She supported her children growing up with their sports and other activities. She served in the schools as a PTO officer and homeroom mother, at home as an energetic and devoted Blue Bird Campfire leader, and afternoons on the field coaching. She gave countless hours taxiing her children to art and music lessons, concerts, and recitals, sports practices and games, as well as rehearsals and plays. As a mother, she was in her element. This is a role that came naturally to her and she loved it. Donna adored her grandchildren and attended as many competitions, concerts, games, parades, parties and recitals as she could. She was so proud of them all, loved watching them grow up, and spent as much time with them as she could. She enjoyed researching genealogy and felt connected to and inspired by her ancestors. She had a passion for visiting ancient cities and sites and found herself living in England and exploring Europe for a few years after the loss of her husband. Donna was never the same after losing Dick, but her deep love for and devotion to her friends and family kept her going for another twenty-three years without him. Donna was preceded in death by the love-of-her-life, Dick Hanold; her parents, Doris and Don Kellar; sisters Denise Marchant and Pamela Tyler; and many dear extended relatives and friends. She is survived by her children Rachele Rice, Janelle Klein (Chip), and Michael Hanold; grandchildren Emma, Ellee, Kai, Madelynne and Colin; a special niece and Godchild that she helped to raise, Gina Conn and her two sons, Jason and Justin; brothers Jim (Dixie) Tyler, Gene (Jeanne) Tyler, Chuck Tyler; sisters Paula Deangelo, Elizabeth (Carl) Nelson, Lanae (John) Ross; step-siblings, Connie (Bill) Graham and Donald Kellar; and many dear friends and members of her extended family. Donna's family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Isaak and Dr. Behrens and their staff at the John Stoddard Cancer Center of Des Moines, Aunt Sally Dross, the Unity Point in-home Hospice Team, and to the angels at the Taylor House Hospice. Donna will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband at Linn Grove Cemetery in Prole, Iowa. Services are pending.