Danienne "Dee" (Miner) Saunders

Danienne “Dee” (Miner) Saunders, 85, of Newton died on Monday, December 23, 2024, at her home.  A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 30, 2024, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet friends from 4-6 p.m., Sunday, December 29, at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Croix Hospice may be left at the funeral home.

Dee, the daughter of Daniel H. and Elna (Fleming) Miner, was born on December 25, 1938, in Grinnell.  She grew up in Grinnell and graduated from Grinnell High School in 1957. On November 10, 1957, Dee was united in marriage with Dale L. Saunders, Sr. in Grinnell. They were blessed with two sons, Dale LeRoy “Dudley”, Jr. and Timothy John. Dee was proud to be a stay-at-home mom with the boys until they graduated from high school. After that she worked at CGB Printing and then for Interstate Insurance Services, retiring in 1999.

Dee enjoyed spending time with her family playing cards and games, attending activities, and going on special vacations together.  She loved the four generations of Saunders Family Racing which involved the entire family and led to many lifelong relationships.  She also liked fishing, traveling, reading, and cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Dee and Dale loved to camp and had spent 65 years camping at the Iowa State Fair along with other camping adventures. Dee was very proud to celebrate her Irish Heritage.

Dee is survived by her son, Tim (Rhonda) Saunders of Newton; grandchildren, Josh Saunders (Brittany DeFrance) of Newton, Jenny (James) Jensen of Newton, and Kelsey Saunders of Des Moines; her great-grandchildren, Trent Saunders; LJ, Kayden, Wyatt, and Emma Jensen; and Jackson DeGrado and Paige and Lillie Dupee; sister, Sandy Tyson of Council Bluffs; and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her mother, Elna and John L “Roy” Temple; father, Daniel Miner; her husband of 55 years, Dale; son, Dudley; a grandson, Robbie Saunders; and her sister, Julie Brandon.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Danienne "Dee" (Miner) Saunders, please visit our floral store.