Obituary for Donald Dean Finnell

Donald Dean Finnell, 77, son of Stanley Carl and Mary Grace (Bozwell) Finnell was born July 7, 1944 in Corning, Iowa. Donald was called home by Jesus on Sunday, January 16, 2022 at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, Iowa after a courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded with love by his immediate family.

Donald graduated from Griswold Community Schools in 1963 then worked in the trades for a few years before beginning his 33-year career with John Deere working in the factory where he would retire from in the early 2000’s. On April 19, 1968, he happily eloped in marriage to Nancy Marie Crawley, in Ankeny, Iowa.

Donald and Nancy made their first home in Des Moines for a short time then moving to West Des Moines for 5 years before making their permanent home in Linden in 1974. After retiring from John Deere, Donald spent his retirement running the family lawn care business with his grandchildren.

Donald enjoyed attending gun shows, classic car shows, and attending the Iowa State Fair every year, making sure that his grandchildren never missed a year. He enjoyed taking his family to the Rock n’ Roll Reunion annually at the fair until it ended. He avidly followed the NHRA Drag Racing series, counted down the days until sweet corn season, and loved collecting rarities. Donald made sure to spread his love of all things John Deere through his family. Most of all, Donald loved a good movie theater night (all the extra buttered popcorn, peanut M&M’s, and Pepsi, please) and a Saturday morning breakfast spread with his wife and grandchildren.

Donald will forever be remembered for his quick wit and hard work ethic. He had a wealth of knowledge to share and was never too busy to enjoy a good conversation with others; he never knew a stranger. He was greatly loved and will be missed by many.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley & Grace Finnell, his loving wife of 52 years, Nancy Finnell, his infant son, James Finnell, brothers, Ronald Finnell, Russell Finnell and Richard Finnell. Donald is survived by his son, Dean (Melissa) Finnell of Eureka Springs, Arkansas; daughter, Shannon (Tony) Barber of Panora; grandchildren, Katelyn and Collin Kirkland (Dean, Melissa), Breanna Barber (Mike and Berkley Fisher) and Blaine Barber (Emaleigh Carter) (Shannon, Tony); sister, Mary May Garside (Laverne); brother, Stanley Finnell (Marge), and many other sister & bother-in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, February 12, 2022 at the Yale Community Building, 206 N Main St in Yale, Iowa from 1-4pm. A private family burial will take place at a later date in Union Cemetery Guthrie Center, Iowa.