Donna J. (Sienknecht) Larson

On Friday, July 27th, 2018, Donna J. (Sienknecht) Larson, 66, cherished wife and loving mother, passed away from brain cancer in Des Moines, IA.

Donna was born July 20, 1952, in Waterloo, IA, to Leslie and Pauline (Sedlacek) Sienknecht. She grew up on the family farm in Clutier, IA and graduated from North Tama High School in 1970. She excelled in her studies at Iowa State University in Ames where she obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

Donna was united in marriage to Dan Larson, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, on November 24, 1973, at the Clutier Community Church. They made their home in Johnston, IA for 41 years. She was employed as a dietitian at Des Moines General Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Iowa Heart Center, and Unity Point hospitals. She also enjoyed working at Piney Ridge Greenhouse.

Donna enjoyed quilting, gardening, baking, knitting, and biking. She was always ready to help anyone in need. Her memberships in the Rather Bee quilting group, Des Moines Area Quilters Guild, Polk County Master Gardeners, and St. Paul Presbyterian Church reflected her many passions.

She is survived by her husband, Dan Larson of Johnston, IA; three children, Krista (Ben) Reis of Grimes, IA, Katie Larson (Jesse Bartley) of Niwot, CO, and Kurt (Melinda) Larson of Moorhead, MN; her mother Pauline Sienknecht; brothers, Mark (Tracy) Sienknecht and Alan (Kristi) Sienknecht, all of Clutier; and five grandchildren, Abigail, Jackson, and Harper Reis, and Weston and June Bartley.

She is preceded in death by her father, Leslie Sienknecht.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, August 10 at Westover Funeral Home in Des Moines. Memorial services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 11 at St. Paul Presbyterian Church in Johnston.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Paul Presbyterian Church or the American Cancer Society.