In Memory of Donna L. Georgopoulos

Donna L. Georgopoulos, age 75, of Battle Creek, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, as the result of a vehicle accident near Rembrandt, Iowa.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 1, 2022, at the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek, Iowa. Pastor Bill Crawford will officiate. A Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, June 30, 2022, at the Christensen -Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa.

In memory of Donna, memorials may be made to the Battle Creek Ambulance or the Battle Creek Womens Club.

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove & Battle Creek, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Donna Louise Georgopoulos was born on March 10, 1947, in Mitchell, SD, to Howard and Josephine (Brumbaugh) Herrick. They lived on a farm south of White Lake, SD and attended school in Wood, SD. Donna graduated from Farmer, SD, in 1965. Her father taught her in 1^st, 5^th and 6^th grade. She graduated college in 1969 from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell where she majored in Art Education and minored in Elementary/Secondary Education and Physical Education.

Donna met Arthur Georgopoulos, son of George and Anna (Gaveras) Georgopoulos, of Mitchell in the “Art Room”. They were united in marriage on December 28, 1969, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Mitchell with Greek Orthodox Father Pappas officiating. 

They moved to Bloomfield, NE, to start their teaching careers, raise a family, and become active in the community.  Donna “Mrs. G” taught in Creighton, NE and then Santee, NE, until 1987. She taught art, PE, elementary education, and was a remedial resource teacher. She advanced her education at Wayne State College in Wayne, NE, with studies in Behavioral Disorders in 1982. The family moved to Battle Creek, IA, in 1987 where she continued her passion for teaching at the elementary and middle school level and with art and special education. In 1990 she received her Master’s in Behavioral Disorders from Morningside College in Sioux City, IA.  In 2002 she was awarded the Iowa Middle Level Art Educator of the Year. She retired in 2002 from the Battle Creek-Ida Grove CSD and taught for over 33 years. 

Following retirement, she continued serving as a volunteer on the Battle Creek Community Ambulance and was employed at Ida Sheltered Services where she became a Productions Supervisor. Over the years, she was avidly involved in church activities, Sunday and Vacation Bible School, Woman’s Club, a Scout leader, and collaborated with many community art projects with Arthur. 

Donna enjoyed gardening, crocheting, arts/crafts, being a foster parent, the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, traveling across the country and Greece sightseeing, and visiting family and friends. In the last few years especially, you could find Arthur and her going for drives, sometimes “off the beaten path”, enjoying the scenery, taking photos, and visiting with locals. She especially loved people and helping others, offering kind words, lending a hand or donating time, items, money, places to stay or just being there to listen. Most of all, she loved her family, her “boys”, their spouses, grandchildren, and everyone in her extended family.

Donna is survived by her husband Arthur Georgopoulos of Battle Creek, IA; sons George (Joni) Georgopoulos of Correctionville, IA, Mark (Stacy) Georgopoulos of Sioux City, IA, Nicholas (Cassie) Georgopoulos of Cary, NC and Andrew (Christina) Georgopoulos of Ankeny, IA; grandchildren: Taylor (Frankie) Georgopoulos of Omaha, NE, Alysa Georgopoulos of Omaha, NE, Dylan Georgopoulos of N. Sioux City, SD, Jackson Georgopoulos of Sioux City, IA, Constantine Georgopoulos of Cary, NC and Kostadinos, Theoditis and Kyriakos Georgopoulos of Ankeny, IA, and one grandchild on the way; great-grandchild Clio Georgopoulos. She is also survived by sisters Judy (John) Magstadt of Mitchell, SD and Frances ‘Tink’ Sharp of Fullerton, NE; brothers Tom (Cindy) Herrick of Anthon, IA and Bob Herrick of Emery, SD; sisters-in-law Kalley (Mark) Johnson and Stella (Fred) Treiber both of North Oaks, MN; aunt Irene Blair of Eugene, OR; and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Howard and Josephine Herrick; in-laws George and Anna Georgopoulos; godparents Tom and Toni Ramos; brothers-in-law Larry “Bird” Sharp and John Georgolopolos; and sister-in law Sharon Herrick.