Deanna J. Harmsen, 83, passed away Friday, September 10, 2021, at her home in Silvis, Illinois, surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Deanna has been cremated and her wishes are for no visitation or funeral services. Burial will be in the Durant Cemetery, Durant, Iowa.
A Celebration of Life luncheon will be 11:30 a.m., Saturday, September 18, at Blackstone Restaurant in Iowa City. Memorials may be made in her memory to Genesis Hospice, 2546 Tech Drive, Bettendorf, IA 52722.
Deanna Jean Harmsen, born April 11, 1938, in Davenport, the daughter of Alvin and Grace (Daufeldt) Harmsen. She grew up on the family farm south of Bennett and graduated from Bennett High School in 1956. She worked a short time at a bank in Tipton, who sponsored her as a contestant in the annual 4th of July Miss Cedar County beauty pageant contest, her talent was singing and playing the guitar. She married William George Roehlk on October 5, 1957, in Davenport and the couple moved to Galesburg, Illinois. They were the parents of Douglas, Susan and Brett. She was employed in the business office of the Bell Appliance Store in Galesburg. Deanna and William were later divorced. She married Van Cleveland Bell on November 26, 1966, in Galesburg, Illinois. They were the parents of Bridget. Deanna and Van were later divorced. She moved to Davenport and was employed in a doctor's office. When the doctor decided to move his practice to Mediapolis, she made the move to Mediapolis also, until he retired. She then returned to Davenport and made her home with her mother, until her passing in 2000. She married Gale Allen Gates on February 2, 2002, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and were later divorced. She then became employed at Younkers at North Park Mall, until she retired. She met Franklin Rasso and they became partners.
She and Frank decided to leave Iowa and moved to a new condo in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, which her brother, Gary Harmsen and his real-estate company, bought and developed in 2007. They enjoyed their time in Texas, especially having her two brothers, Gary and Calvin Harmsen and their wives, who were also living in Horseshoe Bay. In 2018, they decided to move to Silvis, Illinois. She enjoyed ballroom dancing with Frank, both in the Quad-Cities area and in Texas, and listening to big band music, baking and making her famous French toast, shopping and giving her granddaughters fashion tips and watching basketball games. She loved to travel and made trips to Europe, Las Vegas, Hawaii with family and to China with her brother Gary and his wife. Above all, she loved the time she spent with her family and friends.
Surviving are two daughters, Susan (Jeffrey) Buch of Fairfield and Bridget Bell of Las Vegas, NV; two sons, Douglas Roehlk of Park City, UT, and Brett (Laurie) Roehlk of Cedar Rapids; 14 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one sister, Betty Ann (Tyrone Parker) Harmsen of Omaha, NE; two brothers, Richard (Marjorie) Harmsen of Durant and Calvin (Patricia) Harmsen of Davenport; several nieces and nephews; and her partner, Franklin Rasso of Silvis, IL, who she shared living with for several years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Robert and Gary Harmsen, one sister-in-law, Dr. Betty Harmsen and one great-niece, Ashley Harmsen.
The family would like to thank all the staff at Genesis Hospice, Bettendorf, for all the loving care they gave to Deanna.
Weerts Funeral Home
Deanna has been cremated and her wishes are for no visitation or funeral services. Burial will be in the Durant Cemetery, Durant, Iowa.
A Celebration of Life luncheon will be 11:30 a.m., Saturday, September 18, at Blackstone Restaurant in Iowa City. Memorials may be made in her memory to Genesis Hospice, 2546 Tech Drive, Bettendorf, IA 52722.
Deanna Jean Harmsen, born April 11, 1938, in Davenport, the daughter of Alvin and Grace (Daufeldt) Harmsen. She grew up on the family farm south of Bennett and graduated from Bennett High School in 1956. She worked a short time at a bank in Tipton, who sponsored her as a contestant in the annual 4th of July Miss Cedar County beauty pageant contest, her talent was singing and playing the guitar. She married William George Roehlk on October 5, 1957, in Davenport and the couple moved to Galesburg, Illinois. They were the parents of Douglas, Susan and Brett. She was employed in the business office of the Bell Appliance Store in Galesburg. Deanna and William were later divorced. She married Van Cleveland Bell on November 26, 1966, in Galesburg, Illinois. They were the parents of Bridget. Deanna and Van were later divorced. She moved to Davenport and was employed in a doctor's office. When the doctor decided to move his practice to Mediapolis, she made the move to Mediapolis also, until he retired. She then returned to Davenport and made her home with her mother, until her passing in 2000. She married Gale Allen Gates on February 2, 2002, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and were later divorced. She then became employed at Younkers at North Park Mall, until she retired. She met Franklin Rasso and they became partners.
She and Frank decided to leave Iowa and moved to a new condo in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, which her brother, Gary Harmsen and his real-estate company, bought and developed in 2007. They enjoyed their time in Texas, especially having her two brothers, Gary and Calvin Harmsen and their wives, who were also living in Horseshoe Bay. In 2018, they decided to move to Silvis, Illinois. She enjoyed ballroom dancing with Frank, both in the Quad-Cities area and in Texas, and listening to big band music, baking and making her famous French toast, shopping and giving her granddaughters fashion tips and watching basketball games. She loved to travel and made trips to Europe, Las Vegas, Hawaii with family and to China with her brother Gary and his wife. Above all, she loved the time she spent with her family and friends.
Surviving are two daughters, Susan (Jeffrey) Buch of Fairfield and Bridget Bell of Las Vegas, NV; two sons, Douglas Roehlk of Park City, UT, and Brett (Laurie) Roehlk of Cedar Rapids; 14 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one sister, Betty Ann (Tyrone Parker) Harmsen of Omaha, NE; two brothers, Richard (Marjorie) Harmsen of Durant and Calvin (Patricia) Harmsen of Davenport; several nieces and nephews; and her partner, Franklin Rasso of Silvis, IL, who she shared living with for several years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Robert and Gary Harmsen, one sister-in-law, Dr. Betty Harmsen and one great-niece, Ashley Harmsen.
The family would like to thank all the staff at Genesis Hospice, Bettendorf, for all the loving care they gave to Deanna.
Weerts Funeral Home
Deanna J. Harmsen, 83, passed away Friday, September 10, 2021, at her home in Silvis, Illinois, surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Deanna has been cremated and her wishes are for no visitation or funeral services. Burial will be in the Durant Cemetery, Durant, Iowa.
A Celebration of Life luncheon will be 11:30 a.m., Saturday, September 18, at Blackstone Restaurant in Iowa City. Memorials may be made in her memory to Genesis Hospice, 2546 Tech Drive, Bettendorf, IA 52722.
Deanna Jean Harmsen, born April 11, 1938, in Davenport, the daughter of Alvin and Grace (Daufeldt) Harmsen. She grew up on the family farm south of Bennett and graduated from Bennett High School in 1956. She worked a short time at a bank in Tipton, who sponsored her as a contestant in the annual 4th of July Miss Cedar County beauty pageant contest, her talent was singing and playing the guitar. She married William George Roehlk on October 5, 1957, in Davenport and the couple moved to Galesburg, Illinois. They were the parents of Douglas, Susan and Brett. She was employed in the business office of the Bell Appliance Store in Galesburg. Deanna and William were later divorced. She married Van Cleveland Bell on November 26, 1966, in Galesburg, Illinois. They were the parents of Bridget. Deanna and Van were later divorced. She moved to Davenport and was employed in a doctor's office. When the doctor decided to move his practice to Mediapolis, she made the move to Mediapolis also, until he retired. She then returned to Davenport and made her home with her mother, until her passing in 2000. She married Gale Allen Gates on February 2, 2002, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and were later divorced. She then became employed at Younkers at North Park Mall, until she retired. She met Franklin Rasso and they became partners.
She and Frank decided to leave Iowa and moved to a new condo in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, which her brother, Gary Harmsen and his real-estate company, bought and developed in 2007. They enjoyed their time in Texas, especially having her two brothers, Gary and Calvin Harmsen and their wives, who were also living in Horseshoe Bay. In 2018, they decided to move to Silvis, Illinois. She enjoyed ballroom dancing with Frank, both in the Quad-Cities area and in Texas, and listening to big band music, baking and making her famous French toast, shopping and giving her granddaughters fashion tips and watching basketball games. She loved to travel and made trips to Europe, Las Vegas, Hawaii with family and to China with her brother Gary and his wife. Above all, she loved the time she spent with her family and friends.
Surviving are two daughters, Susan (Jeffrey) Buch of Fairfield and Bridget Bell of Las Vegas, NV; two sons, Douglas Roehlk of Park City, UT, and Brett (Laurie) Roehlk of Cedar Rapids; 14 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one sister, Betty Ann (Tyrone Parker) Harmsen of Omaha, NE; two brothers, Richard (Marjorie) Harmsen of Durant and Calvin (Patricia) Harmsen of Davenport; several nieces and nephews; and her partner, Franklin Rasso of Silvis, IL, who she shared living with for several years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Robert and Gary Harmsen, one sister-in-law, Dr. Betty Harmsen and one great-niece, Ashley Harmsen.
The family would like to thank all the staff at Genesis Hospice, Bettendorf, for all the loving care they gave to Deanna.
Weerts Funeral Home
Deanna has been cremated and her wishes are for no visitation or funeral services. Burial will be in the Durant Cemetery, Durant, Iowa.
A Celebration of Life luncheon will be 11:30 a.m., Saturday, September 18, at Blackstone Restaurant in Iowa City. Memorials may be made in her memory to Genesis Hospice, 2546 Tech Drive, Bettendorf, IA 52722.
Deanna Jean Harmsen, born April 11, 1938, in Davenport, the daughter of Alvin and Grace (Daufeldt) Harmsen. She grew up on the family farm south of Bennett and graduated from Bennett High School in 1956. She worked a short time at a bank in Tipton, who sponsored her as a contestant in the annual 4th of July Miss Cedar County beauty pageant contest, her talent was singing and playing the guitar. She married William George Roehlk on October 5, 1957, in Davenport and the couple moved to Galesburg, Illinois. They were the parents of Douglas, Susan and Brett. She was employed in the business office of the Bell Appliance Store in Galesburg. Deanna and William were later divorced. She married Van Cleveland Bell on November 26, 1966, in Galesburg, Illinois. They were the parents of Bridget. Deanna and Van were later divorced. She moved to Davenport and was employed in a doctor's office. When the doctor decided to move his practice to Mediapolis, she made the move to Mediapolis also, until he retired. She then returned to Davenport and made her home with her mother, until her passing in 2000. She married Gale Allen Gates on February 2, 2002, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and were later divorced. She then became employed at Younkers at North Park Mall, until she retired. She met Franklin Rasso and they became partners.
She and Frank decided to leave Iowa and moved to a new condo in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, which her brother, Gary Harmsen and his real-estate company, bought and developed in 2007. They enjoyed their time in Texas, especially having her two brothers, Gary and Calvin Harmsen and their wives, who were also living in Horseshoe Bay. In 2018, they decided to move to Silvis, Illinois. She enjoyed ballroom dancing with Frank, both in the Quad-Cities area and in Texas, and listening to big band music, baking and making her famous French toast, shopping and giving her granddaughters fashion tips and watching basketball games. She loved to travel and made trips to Europe, Las Vegas, Hawaii with family and to China with her brother Gary and his wife. Above all, she loved the time she spent with her family and friends.
Surviving are two daughters, Susan (Jeffrey) Buch of Fairfield and Bridget Bell of Las Vegas, NV; two sons, Douglas Roehlk of Park City, UT, and Brett (Laurie) Roehlk of Cedar Rapids; 14 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one sister, Betty Ann (Tyrone Parker) Harmsen of Omaha, NE; two brothers, Richard (Marjorie) Harmsen of Durant and Calvin (Patricia) Harmsen of Davenport; several nieces and nephews; and her partner, Franklin Rasso of Silvis, IL, who she shared living with for several years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Robert and Gary Harmsen, one sister-in-law, Dr. Betty Harmsen and one great-niece, Ashley Harmsen.
The family would like to thank all the staff at Genesis Hospice, Bettendorf, for all the loving care they gave to Deanna.
Weerts Funeral Home
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
