Donna Lee Phillips

Donna L. Phillips, 82, of Peru, Iowa, passed away Friday, October 3, 2025, at Azria Health of Winterset.

Donna Lee Warren was born July 23, 1943, at Weld County Hospital in Greeley, Colorado, to Donald and Betty (Longshore) Warren. When she was two years old, her family moved to Barney, Iowa, where she spent the rest of her life in Madison County. Donna attended school in Lorimor and graduated from Lorimor High School in 1961.

On August 15, 1965, Donna was united in marriage to Leon Phillips at the Truro Methodist Church. They were blessed with two sons, Chet and Clay.

Donna was a devoted homemaker who also held a variety of jobs over the years, including working at Des Moines General Hospital answering phones. She was a member of the Peru United Methodist Church Women’s Society and had a wide range of interests. She earned a brown belt in Taekwondo and even went skydiving on her 68th birthday. She loved flowers and filled her yard with them, baked wedding cakes, and enjoyed traveling—especially to Colorado and Hawaii. Donna took countless photos on her trips and kept many albums full of cherished memories.

She also shared a special bond with her mother, and the two often enjoyed shopping trips to Des Moines, where they always made a stop at Bishop Cafeteria in Southridge Mall for a slice of chocolate pie.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Betty Warren; her husband, Leon Phillips; and her sister, Beatrice Iiams.

She is survived by her sons, Chet Phillips of Peru, Iowa, and Clay Phillips of Lawton, Oklahoma.

A visitation will be held from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, Winterset Chapel with the funeral service beginning at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow in the Ebenezer Cemetery, Peru. 

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for a future designation.