Donna Lechtenberg Obituary

Donna Lechtenberg age 81 of Waverly (formerly Spillville), IA, passed away on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community in Waverly.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 207 Church St., Spillville, IA, with Rev. Henry Huber presiding. Burial to follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church on Thursday.
Donna was born in Elma, IA on March 10, 1944, the firstborn of James and Marie (Haskovec) Novak. A sister, Diane, and brother, Duane, would follow. James & Marie had a farm west of Protivin and eventually they moved to town in 1952. Donna graduated from Rudolphium High School in Protivin in 1962. After high school, she moved to Cresco, IA where she rented a small apartment and worked at Hoines Drug. Donna would then move to Rochester, MN where she would work a front desk job at Mayo Clinic.
In early 1970, Donna was at Tuchek's Bar in Cresco when she met a handsome, young man with slicked back hair named Lester Lechtenberg. It is unknown who made the first move, but let's be honest, Donna was never shy! The couple would be united in marriage on November 21, 1970, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Protivin. They would be together for 42 wonderful years. They lived in Spillville, IA. On December 3, 1971, Donna and Lester were blessed with their first son, Dana Lee. Two years later, on December 2, 1973, Heather Noelle was born. Finally, on February 10, 1979, the Lechtenberg family welcomed Dustin Parrish.
Donna stayed home to raise her family and while doing so, would also take care of friends' children. Around 1980, she went to work some nights at a restaurant in Calmar, IA called The Red Vest. Serving came natural for her, as she was a hard-worker and a people person. The restaurant would change names over the years (Oodles and The Train Station) and Donna would continue working there. Donna always enjoyed taking care of the morning coffee crew and made many friends along the way. Retiring in 2006, Donna took on her greatest job yet, Grandma. She dearly loved all six of her grandchildren, taking them on photo shoots with different themes throughout the years.
Donna loved to bake and became known for her amazing kolaches. Hosting guests for dinner brought her joy as well as showing off her house, as she had a knack for decorating. Music and dancing were always a passion for her, as well as roller-skating. The Inwood and Matters Ballroom were favorite places for her and Lester, they would glide across the floor with ease. Card Club was a staple of their lives, and you would always catch Donna at bingo on Monday nights. Donna was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville.
Donna's survivors include two sons: Dana (Vanessa) Lechtenberg, of Cedar Falls, IA, and Dustin (Debbi) Lechtenberg, of Marion, IA; one daughter, Heather Reicherts, of Waverly, IA; six grandchildren, Emmalene and Zeke Lechtenberg, Stella and Mabel Reicherts, Kinnick and Jens Lechtenberg; one sister: Diane (Del) Drilling, of Raymond, IA; one brother: Duane (Patty) Novak, of Rochester, MN; two brothers-in-law: Leon (Laura) Lechtenberg, of Calmar, IA, and Larry Lechtenberg, of Decorah, IA; one sister-in-law: Marilyn Sabelka, of Decorah, IA; and one brother-in-law: Gene Kipp, of Festina, IA.
Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Lester; her parents, James and Marie Novak; her father and mother-in-law, Lawrence and Thecla (Gerleman) Lechtenberg; one sister-in-law, Marlene Kipp; one brother-in-law, Larry Sabelka; and one nephew in infancy, Scott Lechtenberg.
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