Esther M. Dannels

   Esther M. Dannels, 94, of Newton, died Saturday, February 3, 2024, at MercyOne Newton Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, February 10, 2024, at the New Life Community Church of the Nazarene in Newton.  The family will greet friends following the service with a lunch at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton beginning at 12:15 p.m., Saturday, February 10. Memorials to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries can be left at the church on the day of the service or at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory.

   Esther, the daughter of Isaac Lester and Opal Angeleta (Husted) Helmick, was born July 30, 1929, in rural Bussey.  She grew up in the Bussey, where one day she was lucky enough to meet a boy from a nearby town named Donald Dannels.  The two were married on July 30, 1949, in Albia. The couple made their home in Colfax for several years before moving to Newton. Esther spent her days raising her and Don’s 7 children. After the kids were grown and Don retired from Maytag, the couple moved to New Mexico, serving as missionaries at the Nazarene Indian Bible College from 1983-1985. After that, Don took a ministry position at a church in Tatum, NM, where they resided until moving back to Newton in 1992.  Esther had been a member of the New Life Community Church of the Nazarene for over 70 years. She was also a member of TOPS and WCTU.  She enjoyed reading, sewing, crocheting, traveling, taking pictures, rock collecting, and plants, and was especially talented at growing African violets. Most of all, she valued spending time with her family.

   Those left to honor Esther’s memory include her husband, Don Dannels of Newton; 6 children: Jerry (Cindy) Dannels, Jim (Jo) Dannels, Del (Gale) Dannels, Brenda (David) Lester, Dan Dannels, and John (Marylouise) Dannels, all of Newton; 17 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; and her “adopted” family, Joe and Sharon Kriegel of Newton and their children, Tigh (deceased) and Stacy.

   Esther was preceded in death by her parents; son, Mark Dale Dannels; grandson, Christopher Dannels; daughter-in-law, Donna Dannels; and her siblings: Bill, Melvin, Dorothy, Neva, Flossie, Lucille, Ralph, and a sister in infancy.

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