Donna Stark

Donna Stark, 96, passed away Friday, February 13, 2026, at Kennybrook Village in Grimes, Iowa. The family will receive friends at 10:00 am on Thursday, February 19, 2026 at Iles Funeral Home, Brandt Chapel, 1301 Ash Street in Dallas Center, Iowa, followed by services at 11:00 and lunch. There will be a private family graveside burial afterwards at Sunny Hill Cemetery in Grimes, Iowa. Donna was born March 20, 1929 in Peoria, Illinois to Louis and Lula Rassler. Donna had one older brother, Louis (Junior) and one younger brother, Raymond (Bud). Donna and her brothers grew up together on the family farm in Speer, Illinois. Donna had many fond memories of growing up on the farm, sharing many stories with grandkids and great grandkids about milking cows, telephone party lines, gathering eggs and learning to cook from her Mom, "Grammy".

The family farm memories continued into the next generation with Diane and Mark. Among the favorites were playing in the barn, running across the pasture where the cows were to get to the mail box, picking vegetables from the garden, feeding all the cats in the barn, eating ice cream every night with fresh strawberries, baking cookies and going home with a shoebox of cookies tied with a cotton string, sliding down the front staircase and the back spooky staircase, when Grammy's pressure cooker blew up with beets in the kitchen and turned the ceiling purple, Grampy sitting in his rocking chair in the kitchen by the cast iron stove, counting the cars on the trains going by, playing in the cob house in the corn cobs they used for heat, and particular incidents with a skunk, a raccoon and a swarm of bees …

When Donna graduated from high school in Wyoming, Illinois (where she was Homecoming Queen), she boarded a train to Omaha and started an office training program. Her first job after her training was complete was at the Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha, where she and Roger met. Donna said he "just kept hanging around" before finally getting up the courage to ask her out; and as they say, the rest is history. Roger and Donna were married on September 3, 1949 in Omaha, Nebraska, and welcomed two children into their marriage; Diane and Mark.

Donna stayed busy with volunteer work, golf, playing cards with friends and swimming, but Donna's whole heart went into her family. She was a devoted homemaker and an excellent cook. Diane remembers Donna teaching her to cook and sew; Donna made Diane's prom dresses and also her own dress for Diane's wedding. Donna also knitted, crocheted and cross stitched and enjoyed caring for her plants and flowers.

Donna volunteered in a variety of ways. She was a volunteer with the Red Cross at the Methodist Hospital in Omaha, worked in the lunchroom at Laura Dodge Elementary School where Mark attended, volunteered at Presbyterian Church of the Master in Omaha. Donna also worked at EMC Insurance Company.

Roger, Donna, Diane and Mark spent a lot of summers at Lake Okoboji in Iowa and later enjoyed visiting family there when Mark built his own home in Okoboji. They also traveled often to Des Moines, Iowa to visit Mark and his family, babysitting grandkids, cats, dogs and whoever else needed their help.

Roger and Donna also owned a condo in Vero Beach, Florida for many years which allowed them to spend time with their daughter Diane and her family. Diane's children have many fond memories of their grandparents living close in Vero Beach, picking them up from school and Roger teaching them to fish.

When Roger retired, he and Donna made many incredible memories traveling the world together. Their trips included time in all 50 USA states, Switzerland, Austria, Russia, Germany, the Panama Canal, the Baltic Sea, Canada and the Caribbean islands; with 12 of these trips including cruises.

In 2011, Roger and Donna made the big decision to move from Omaha, after 65 years, to Kennybook Village in Grimes, Iowa. They sold their condo, packed everything up and went on a cruise before the big move. When Roger and Donna moved to Grimes, they became members at First Presbyterian Church in Grimes.

Roger and Donna started their Kennybrook journey in Independent Living and were there for 8 years before moving into Assisted Living in 2019 when Donna was diagnosed with cancer (which she beat!). Donna moved to Skilled Nursing in April 2023 after Roger passed away. Kennybrook Village affectionately dubbed Donna "Donna the OG". Donna formed cherished relationships with the staff and residents at Kennybrook and shared many conversations with them in her room and the dining room.

Donna is survived by her daughter, Diane (Gary) Lind of Vero Beach, FL; son, Mark (Joni) Stark of Ankeny, IA; three granddaughters, Lauren (Matt) Danziger, Kristin (Joe) Hunter, Karrie (Tom) Washington; two grandsons, Greg Stark, Brian (Gina) Lind; nine great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Roger, her parents, and two brothers.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Grimes or Boys Town.

Donna, you were so loved and you will be so missed.

Online condolences are welcome at www.ilescares.com. Arrangements by Iles Brandt Chapel.