Daniel J. O'Donnell

Dan O’Donnell, Sr., 80, died Sunday, November 25, 2012, with family at his side, while at the Kavanagh House. Visitation will be Wednesday, November 28, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Parish Hall from 4-8 PM, with a Rosary Service at 7 PM.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church on Thursday, November 29, at 10 AM, with burial to follow at Glendale Cemetery.

Dan was born December 24, 1931, in Elkhart, Iowa; he graduated from Dowling High School in 1949, where he earned the Aquinas Key, and then served honorably in the US Army from 1951-1953. He was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, and had been employed at Riekes Equipment for 35 years, retiring in 1997.

Dan married Delores (Daughenbaugh) in 1951, and they raised nine children in their sixty-one years of marriage. He had been inducted into the Fort Des Moines Little League Hall of Fame, and was a member of The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick where he received a lifetime achievement award, and was the 2001 recipient of the Irishman of the Year. He is the patriarch of the O’Donnell & Friends Open which has raised money for local charities for nearly twenty years, and has spent a lifetime assisting those in need.

The family would like to extend special thanks to his oncologist, Dr. Steve Heddinger, Nurse Amy Bell, as well as Dr. Michael Mosley and Nurse LeAnn Bachelder of HCI, and to all the nurses and staff at the Kavanagh House. Their kindness and dedication has helped us through this very difficult journey.

Dan is survived by his wife Delores, and the following nine children and 28 grandchildren:,son Daniel, Jr. (Kris), with children, Ellen (Jesse) Ahrens, Ashley (John) Miller, and Ben (Amber); son James (Terrie),with children Mindy and Tiffany (Davin) Holmes; son Dennis (Teri) with children Michael, Bryan (Tonja), Katie, Aron,Reimers, and Alyson Reimers; son Mark (Tonya) with children Amanda (Evan) Jones, and Ryan (Carolyn) ; son John (Rhonda) with children Shannon, Sean, Shelby, and Sydney; daughter Mary Kay (Craig) Duede with children Erin (Kevin) Hixson, Matt, Megan, and Kelsey; daughter Mary Beth (Dave) Heddinger with children Sarah, Jacob, and Mary Jess; son Gary (Sheila) with children Stephanie (Cory) Benson, and Heather (Josh) Evans; son Tim (Angela) with children Bailey, Riley and,Kalley. In addition, he is survived by,fifteen great grandchildren, with two additional on the way, as well as his sister Linda (Tom) Glas of Alcester, South Dakota, sister-in-law Carolyn O’Donnell of Tigard, Oregon, numerous nieces and nephews, and a multitude of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Alphonsus, II, and Roberta, a brother, Alphonsus III, and his sister Patricia Marshall.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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