Paula Marlene McDonald (Stowers)

Paula Marlene McDonald (Stowers)
March 30, 1940 – November 6, 2015

Went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 6, 2025.

Born to James Earl Stowers and Lillian Mae Whaley Stowers on March 30, 1940.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers David Stowers, James (Jim) Stowers, Billy Joe Stowers and Willard (Willie) Stowers.

Among some of her favorite things to do, she loved connecting with God through walking in nature with her beloved husband Walt by her side holding hands. She loved counting deer to see how many they came across. Seems like the Iowa DNR could use her counts to monitor how many deer were being driven out of the city parks with all the modern updates. She loved counting how many turtles were sunning on the log, looking for and identifying the birds in the parks and along the Des Moines and Racoon Rivers, especially the American Bald Eagles. Mom and dad always went together and went to every single park in the Des Moines area. Her favorite parks were Ft. Des Moines Park and Easter Lake. She loved the explosion of color the trees offered up in the Fall, the beautiful white first snow of the season that glistened like diamonds. The rebirth of flora and fauna that in the Spring exposed the promise of warmth that was on its way.

She encouraged her neighbors who were sick physically and spiritually by sharing the love of Jesus and exhibiting the hope she had inside here. She also shared with her grandchildren who would have an ear to listen and hear of the promise of salvation and the simplicity of a life changed when accepting Jesus.

Her favorite verses were the verses that spoke to her at different times and circumstances in her life. But she would want everyone to read and hear John 3:16; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that who-so-ever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

She is survived by her loving husband of 45 years and 6 months Walter (Walt) M. McDonald, her five children Norma J Belew (Brian) of Norwalk, IA., Rodney Heiselman (Sue) of Las Vegas, NV., Larry L Heiselman (Kristen) of Oqauwka, IL, Jennifer Forman (B.G.) of Van Horn, TX. and Watler McDonald Jr of Des Moines, IA.

She was, is and will forever remain a treasured wife in the heart of her beloved husband Walt and a treasured mother to her five children, 10 grandchildren and numerous (couldn’t count them all) great grandchildren.

For anyone interested in learning more about Jesus and how to be saved to a new life, please contact Pastor Mark Austin of Southtown Pentecostal Church where she was a longtime member.

A graveside service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery; 1 NE 60th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa.

In leu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for the care of our park’s trees and trails and to repopulate the deer that are missing.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.Hamiltonsfuneralhome.com.

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