Obituary of Madonna Lenore Dickerson

M.L. Donna Dickerson Funeral Service for Madonna Lenore (Donna) Dickerson, 71, of Newton, will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 5, 2010, at the Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home in Newton, who has been entrusted with the arrangements, conducted by Deacon Dan Goetz, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton. A visitation with the family will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 - Friday, at the funeral home. In Lieu of flowers: Memorials in Donna's name are being designated. Burial will be in the Veteran's Section at Newton Union Cemetery. Madonna L. Dickerson, the daughter of Burl E. and Mary M. (Dickinson) Hawkins Sr., was born Dec. 3, 1938, in Colfax, Iowa. She was a graduate of the Newton Senior High School, Class of 1956. On Dec. 20, 1958, Donna was united in marriage with Donald F. Dickerson in Newton. She and Don had lived in Solon, IA; Barstow and Yermo, CA; Yuma, AZ and Dallas, Georgia. She had devoted her life to her family and friends, and was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a Life Member of the Newton V.F.W. Auxiliary. She was employed at Snook Inn in Newton and later at the Veteran's Hospital in Iowa City. She was active in her church, enjoyed baking, fishing and cooking for her family and volunteering at V.F.W. Post #1655. Donna died on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 31, 2010, in the Monarch Wing of Skiff Medical Center in Newton. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers: Robert, Dale, Joseph, Donnie and Ronnie; a sister Harriett Hawkins; half sisters: Sharon Smith and Colleen Redington; and half brothers: Johnny and Dean Hawkins. Those left to honor Donna's memory include her husband for 52 plus years, Don; daughter Mary Ruth Dickerson-Martin of Newton; sons: Foster (Robin) Irvin of Iowa City and David J. (Debbie) Fackler of Tiffin, IA; two grandsons: Jeromy Scott (Tina) Harris and Joseph David Harris; a grandson D.J. Fackler; brothers: Michael Hawkins and Harold Hawkins, both of Newton; a half sister Darlene Garwick of Des Moines; several nieces and nephews; and her many good friends.