Donna Lee Stowe, 83, of Sioux City, Iowa, passed away peacefully on August 21, 2026, surrounded by her loved ones at her home, Floyd Senior Living. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa.

Donna was born on July 13, 1943, in Los Angeles, California, to Geneva Simons and Donald Lee Jones. She was a devoted wife to her husband of more than 60 years, a proud mother and grandmother, and a cherished friend to many.

Donna was a kind, compassionate, hardworking woman and a wonderful friend who never seemed to believe that anything was out of reach. She had a stubborn streak, but that determination was one of the things that made her so remarkable. Donna had a talent for seeing the positive side of things, finding a way to make things work, and always negotiating the best deal she could find.

Donna loved to work and never complained about a job. Instead, she made each workplace about the people and friendships she found along the way. One of her favorite jobs was MCI, where she made many lasting friendships. She often worked two or three jobs at a time and continued working well into her late 70s. She never wanted to stop. Money was never something she complained about either; she simply found a way to make things work.

Her creativity extended into nearly everything she did. Donna enjoyed gardening, thrifting, making salsa and canning, and finding new ways to create something from nothing. She ran a ceramic studio in her basement and also made beautiful stained glass. She had a gift for turning an idea into something real, and she taught those around her to believe they could do the same.

On weekends, Donna was often planning the next family event. She created neighborhood carnivals complete with real games, rides, and Kool-Aid stands that were the neighborhood’s version of today’s food trucks. And yes, they even made money at those events. Donna taught her family that they could do anything they set their minds to. She was always focused on the outcome and never saw a problem as something that couldn’t be solved.

One of Donna’s greatest lessons was to always see the positive side of everyone and every situation. That belief was part of what made her such a welcoming person. Her camping trips were a perfect example. She could bring together the art professor’s family, the classy engineer family next door, and cousins who were almost certain to involve the sheriff before the weekend was over. Somehow, everyone had a wonderful time and couldn’t wait to come again.

Above all, Donna loved spending time with the people she loved. Her greatest joy came from bringing people together, creating memories, and making sure everyone felt included. She leaves behind not only the memories of a life filled with hard work, creativity, and adventure, but also the lessons she taught those around her: find a way, don’t give up, treat everyone with kindness, and never assume something is impossible.

She is survived by her children, Pam (Forrest) and Rob/Bobby (Kim); sister, Kathy; grandchildren, Kimberly, Chase (Cassidy), Bryce, Autumn (Myah), and Amber (Brandon); and great-grandchildren, Anna, Emma, Jaden, Cy, and Sam. She is also survived by her two beloved dogs, Dusty (Pam and Forrest) and Molly (Autumn and Myah), now cared for by her family in their new forever homes.

She was preceded in death by her spouse, Bob Stowe; her parents, Donald and Geneva; stepfather, Daniel K. Olson; sister, Scheryl Olson; brother, Bobby Jones; and grandson, Kyle Heck.

Donna will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.