In Memory of Donna Rae Anderson

Donna Rae Anderson, age 75, of Ida Grove (formerly of Denison), Iowa passed away on Friday, August 10, 2018, at the Willow Dale Wellness Village of Battle Creek, Iowa.

Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at the Christensen – Van Houten Funeral Home, of Ida Grove, Iowa. Pastor Shari O’Bannon & Pastor Mark Aurand will officiate. A Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Memorial Service from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at the Christensen – Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa. A Graveside Service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at the Atlantic Cemetery of Atlantic, Iowa.  The Christensen -Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

   Donna Rae (Larson) Anderson was born September 21,1942, to Ray & Ruth (Doonan) Larson. She grew up on a farm south of Manilla, IA. She graduated from Irwin Community School with the class of 1960. She was a NWMS College Independent Homecoming Queen candidate in the fall of 1962 and went on to graduate from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO in 1963. Following graduation, she became a Home Economics teacher in Battle Creek, IA prior to marrying David Bruce Anderson in Harlan, Iowa on May 30, 1964.

   She and David lived in various southwest Iowa towns and she went on to teach in Carson-Macedonia, Griswold, and Underwood, Iowa. In 1979, her family relocated to Chariton, IA, where they owned and operated a radio station. The family relocated to Denison, Iowa in 1985, where David had begun teaching in 1984 following a serious car accident that she was involved in on Valentine’s Day. A few years later, following rehabilitation, she was able to return to substitute teaching in Denison and Dow City. They were residents of Denison for 30 years.

   Donna Rae and David belonged to several organizations in the Denison area and traveled the state following their son’s soccer events. Following David’s retirement in 2004, they once again traveled all over the state to attend Iowa High School Rodeos, never missing them when their health allowed. Later in life, she enjoyed going for walks at the Denison Airport with their dog, Izzy.

   Preceding Donna Rae in death were her husband, David; her parents, Ray and Ruth Larson; and her parents-in-law, Victor and Jorgina Anderson.

   Those surviving Donna Rae are her daughter, Staci (Randy) Rohlk and their children, Jordan and Autumn Rohlk, all of Ida Grove, IA and her son, Greg (Angie) Anderson and their children, Landon, Alexandra, and Vincent Anderson, all of Grimes, IA.