Dawna Renee (Wheeler) Ringgenberg

Dawna Renee Ringgenberg, 57, of Altoona, formerly of Newton died on Monday, September 25, 2023, at Unity Point Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory.  Memorials in Dawna’s name (checks made payable to Danette Wells) may be left at the funeral home.

Dawna, the daughter of Donald and Carolyn (Kephart) Wheeler, was born on June 16, 1966 at Skiff Medical Center in Newton. She grew up in Newton and graduated from Newton High School in 1984. On November 14, 1987, Dawna was united in marriage with Don Ringgenberg in Newton. While in high school, Dawna began working as a dietary aide at Skiff and would continue working there until 1999. She then worked for many years at the Vernon Company and later at the Grinnell Hospital.  Most recently, Dawna was working as an Expanded Services Coordinator for American Solutions for Business.

Dawna was a member of the Ladies of the Moose. Although Dawna notoriously had a black thumb, she recently found a love of gardening and turned rescue roses into a beautiful rose garden. Dawna enjoyed traveling as well and had recently taken a trip to England and Ireland and another trip to Cancun. Her pride and joy was her grandchildren, and she enjoyed many overnights visits with them.

Dawna is survived by her daughter and best friend, Danette (Phillip) Wells of Kellogg; Danette’s father, Don Ringgenberg of Newton; grandchildren, Markus, Malakai, and Makenlee; her longtime close friend, Matt McMillan of Altoona; her “sister”, Shawna Clark of Newton; and several cousins. She is preceded in death by her father, Donald Wheeler; mother, Carolyn Vander Schel; and her sister, Danette Wheeler.

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