Donna Jean Van Stelton

Sibley, IA 

     Donna Van Stelton, age 66 of Sibley, IA died on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at the Osceola Regional Health Center in Sibley.

     Memorial service will be 3:00 p.m., Monday, November 8, 2021, at the Zoar Presbyterian Church rural George, IA, with Pastor Maggie Gisch officiating.

     Visitation will be Sunday, November 7^th with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Jurrens Funeral Home in Sibley. 

     Donna Jean Van Stelton was born on January 5, 1955, in Sibley, IA, the daughter of Bernard and Henrietta (Fransen) Grave.  Donna grew up on a farm between Ashton and George and later graduated from George High School in 1973. 

     On January 28, 1978, Donna was united in marriage to Jerry Van Stelton at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. The couple made their home on a farm near Sibley. It was there that they so happily welcomed two daughters into their family; Jenna, in 1985 and Kayla, in 1989. 

    Donna was an active member of the Zoar Presbyterian Church near George, IA.  She enjoyed helping on the farm and delivering delicious meals to the field. She maintained a beautiful vegetable and flower garden and looked forward to sharing the bounty with friends and family. She loved wintering in Arizona amongst her sisters, and traveling within the state to places like the Grand Canyon, and to Yuma to see her cousins. She got to go on her dream trip to Alaska 3 years ago, and within the last year to the American Gothic House and the Bridges of Madison County.

     Donna’s hobbies included card playing, quilting, crafts, cooking, sending cards/gifts for special occasions, and spending time with family and friends. She especially loved to spend time with her nieces and nephews and their children. She was an encouraging mom, had a great sense of humor, and always made a point to make a connection with everyone.  Her smile and infectious laughter will be missed by many.

     Donna is survived by her husband of forty-three years, Jerry Van Stelton of Sibley, IA; two daughters, Jenna Van Stelton (Mike Theory) of Gaithersburg, MD and Kayla Van Stelton (Carson Tanner) of Prairie City, IA; six siblings, Judy Groen of George, IA, Gary (Lois) Grave of Sauk Centre, MN, Janet (Gary) Christians of Spirit Lake, IA, Joyce (Bob) Roede of Sibley, IA, Nina Keck (Michael “Mars” Rodgers) of Rio Rico, AZ and Sally (Arlen) VanderPloeg of Dewey, AZ; sister-in-law, Donna Grave; nieces, nephews and other extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard, and Henrietta Grave; one brother, Marvin Grave, and two brother-in-laws Verdell “Grumpy” Groen, and Leonard “Rudy” Valek.