Donna J. Shafer

Donna J. Shafer was born on December 28, 1932, to Lloyd and Mabel Bailey in Lansing, Iowa. Donna went home to be with Jesus on July 2, 2025, at UnityPoint Hospice-Taylor House. She was 92.

Donna grew up in Lansing, Iowa with her two brothers David and Neale. She attended nurses training at St. Frances Hospital School of Nursing in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

She met Glenn Shafer in LaCrosse. When she graduated, they married and settled in Great Bend, Kansas. They had 3 children, Connie, Mike, and Gary.

The family moved to Iowa and settled in Ankeny in 1964.

Donna was an emergency room nurse at Iowa Lutheran Hospital until 1977 when she was forced to retire due to health issues.

She loved to read, work in her yard and care for her home. She became a Christian in 1979 and was quite the Bible scholar and also Bible prophecy.

Donna is survived by her daughter, Connie Sparks, two grandsons, Matt (Megan) and Ryan (Jenn) and 6 great-grandchildren, Carson, Mackenna, Terrell, Lane, Broc, and Brody and 1 great-great grandson Elias.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, both brothers, her husband and her two sons.

A time for family and friends to remember Donna will be held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., at Merle Hay Chapel, 4400 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA 50310.