Cover photo for Donna Branson's Obituary
Donna Branson Profile Photo
1929 Donna 2019

Donna Branson

July 27, 1929 — February 23, 2019

Funeral services for Donna Neer Branson, 89, of Melcher-Dallas will be Thursday, February 28, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Melcher-Dallas. Interment will be at the Dallas Cemetery. Family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Donna Neer was born July 27, 1929 to Glen and Tina Hendrickson Neer at their home in Lacona, Iowa. Donna was one of twelve children born to the couple and attended school in Lacona alongside her siblings. One day over her lunch hour, Donna was sitting in a small restaurant in Lacona when a young man began flirting with her across the restaurant. The Next day Donna left for Florida, came home a year later, and walked into the same restaurant the very night she got home. Ralph Branson, that same flirty young man with the ornery smile, was there to greet her. Seven months later, on December 25, 1949, the couple was united in marriage at her parent's home in Lacona. They were the fourth generation in Donna's family to get married on Christmas day. Donna and Ralph were blessed with six children: Rick, Rhonda, Cheryl, Randy, Doug, and Brenda. Donna's greatest accomplishment was raising her children. She spent a lot of time in her kitchen; cooking, baking, and canning for her family. They especially loved her pies, homemade breads, noodles, and sweet rolls full of pie filling. Donna always looked forward to family vacations. Some of their more memorable trips were made to Branson, the Lake of the Ozarks, and to Texas to visit her sister Shirley's family. Donna also loved camping and fishing trips with her family. Once her children were older, Donna worked in several restaurants. She had a lot of good times working at Pinky's and at Shorty's Steakhouse. Outside of work, Donna enjoyed playing Bingo, going to casinos, and going to sales with Ralph. The couple also enjoyed dancing and went to a lot of dances over the years. They celebrated sixty-seven years of marriage before his passing in 2017. Donna passed away February 23, 2019 at the age of 89. She will be greatly missed by her children: Rick (Kim) Branson, Rhonda (Chuck) Nelson, Cheryl (Randy McGee) Branson, Randy (Pennie) Branson, Doug (Tammy) Branson, and Brenda (Max) Ohnemus; 19 grandchildren; 39 great grandchildren; siblings: Shirley Donigan and Ronnie Neer. Preceding her in death were her parents: Glen and Tina Neer; her husband, Ralph in 2017; grandson, Joey Branson; siblings: Melvin Neer, Marvin Neer, Darrell Neer, Mona Evans, Doyle Neer, Arlene Slack, Junie Freeman, Dean Neer, and Don Neer. Cemetery Details Dallas Cemetery Melcher-Dallas, IA 50062

Visitation

FEB 27. 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM (CST)

Pierschbacher Funeral Homes - Melcher-Dallas

803 Garfield Street

Melcher-Dallas, IA 50163

[email protected]

https://www.pierschbacherfuneralhome.com

Service

FEB 28. 10:30 AM (CST)

Pierschbacher Funeral Homes - Melcher-Dallas

803 Garfield Street

Melcher-Dallas, IA 50163

[email protected]

https://www.pierschbacherfuneralhome.com

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