Delores Marie Doonan

Delores Marie Doonan the daughter of Walter and Sarah (Longie) Robertson, was born May 20, 1930, at her parents’ home in Sisseton, South Dakota and died July 23, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa at the age of 87 years, 2 months, and 3 days.
Delores was baptized at the Exira Christian Church in Exira, Iowa. She attended school and later received her GED with her daughters Margaret and Lori. She studied and received her nursing degree in Fargo North Dakota. Delores moved to Harlan, Iowa and was employed as a nurse for several years.
On November 14, 1959, she was united in marriage to Victor Norman Doonan, Sr. in Harlan. They lived on Victor’s family farm near Elk Horn, Iowa for several years and then moved into Harlan where Victor managed a gas station. In 1974 they purchased the gas station in Exira, Iowa. Delores not only raised the children but she also assisted Victor at the gas station and took care of the books. They retired and sold the station in 1984. Victor suffered from many health issues and Delores used her nursing skills to make his life a little more comfortable. Victor died August 18, 2000. Delores lived in her own home until she moved to the Exira Care Center in the fall of 2016.
Delores was a member of the Exira Christian Church. She enjoyed hunting and fishing with Victor. They had a large garden and Delores enjoyed many hours canning and preserving the produce. She was very proud of her Indian heritage and helped the children to appreciate the Indian culture. But most of all she loved being with her family especially her grandchildren.
Preceding her in death in addition to her husband Victor; were her infant twin sons Donald and Ronald; her parents; her sisters and brothers; her mother-in-law and father-in-law Art and Elma Doonan; and her brother-in-law Donald Dean and wife Charlotte Doonan.
Survivors include her children, Andrea and husband Eugene Crane, Victor Norman Doonan, Jr. and wife Tammy, Diane and husband Mitchell Munch, Margaret Ann and husband Michael Haley all of Exira, Iowa and Lori Colleen Frederiksen of Atlantic, Iowa; her grandchildren Gina Crane of Sacramento, California, Samantha Doonan of Manning, Iowa, Rachel Doonan of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Anthony Doonan of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Brandi Munch of Des Moines, Iowa, Megan and husband T.J. Wiemann of Exira, Iowa, Dustin and wife Becca Munch of Dallas, Texas, Jason and wife Maigan Haley of Jefferson, Iowa, Cory and wife Jessie Haley of Exira, Iowa, Quinton Haley and Liz Smith and Nathan and wife Candace Inman all of Ankeny, Iowa, Joey and wife Annie Inman of Exira, Iowa, and Cheyanne Wahlert of Atlantic, Iowa; her step grandchildren Anthony Rutherford of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Alex Rutherford of Exira, Iowa; numerous great grandchildren; her brother-in-law Verle and wife Helen Doonan of Elk Horn, Iowa; a special family friend Robin Carder of Grimes, Iowa; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.
The family will meet with friends Friday evening, July 28, 2017, at 5:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Glen Meyers on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 P.M. at the Exira Christian Church in Exira. Interment will be in the St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery west of Exira, Iowa. The honorary casket bearers will be her great grandchildren. The casket bearers will be her grandchildren Gina Crane, Samantha Doonan, Rachel Doonan, Anthony Doonan, Brandi Munch, Megan Wiemann, Dustin Munch, Jason Haley, Cory Haley, Quinton Haley, Nathan Inman, Joey Inman, and Cheyanne Wahlert.