Donna Mae Wetzel

1929 - 2023

Donna Mae (Erger) Wetzel, 94, formerly of Cedar Falls, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at the Oldorf Hospice House in Hiawatha, Iowa.

Donna was born May 17, 1929, in Brandon, Iowa, to John and Dorothy A. (Schlotterbeck) Erger. She was raised on the family farm just east of Brandon and attended the Brandon Country School. She began working full time on their family farm after finishing the eighth grade.

Donna raised four children and worked for UNI in housekeeping. She loved telling stories of her time at UNI and how she played pranks on the college students. Her laugh and giggle were contagious; funny and full of life. She loved decorating and going over the top for holidays. She even wore an Easter Bunny costume for the neighborhood children. Donna enjoyed playing Yahtzee and card games. She also enjoyed spending time with her neighbors and dear friends in Cedar Falls. She loved antiquing, crocheting, and crafting and often shared her creations with family and friends.

She took great pride in keeping her home immaculate and her yard well maintained, but she was especially proud of her flowers, many of which she got from her own mother. Her drink of choice was Pepsi and she always had candy or cookies for visitors in her beautiful 1960s home. She was an excellent baker and would give cookies to the mail carrier. Donna was active and independent into her 90s. She adored babies and children; her grandchildren and great grandchildren kept her young at heart.

Donna is survived by her children Linda (Frank), Butch (Alice), Mark (Albyrt), Lora (Nick; her grandchildren Anne (Evan), Emma (Matt), Steven, Miranda, Lexi, Mercedes (Chance), Sadie, Emily, Wren, Maria (honorary grandchild), Jack (Alden), Dustin (Lucinda); great-grandchildren Avayla, Ellawyn, Azariah, and her siblings Marlys Stuffen, Yvonne Erger, Harold (Betty) Erger, Bill (Paula) Erger, Julie McDaniel, and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding Donna in death are her parents, John and Dorothy Erger, sister Darlene Shetler, and brothers Joe and Earl Erger.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at Oldorf Hospice House for their care during Donna's last days. In Lieu of flowers, charitable contributions can be made to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank www.neifb.org.

A celebration of Donna's life will be held on what would have been her 95th birthday weekend, May 18, 2024 from 11 to 3 at the Brandon Community Center, 802 Main Street, Brandon, Iowa. All family and friends are invited.