Donna Louise Wells

Donna Louise Wells, 73, of Des Moines, passed away on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at Wesley on Grand, a WesleyLife Community for Healthy Living in Des Moines.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home – Perry Chapel, 1721 Park Street, Perry, Iowa. A memorial service will be held at a later date, with burial at Peoples Cemetery in rural Woodward. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to AHeinz57 Pet Rescue in De Soto, Iowa. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.

Donna was born on July 17, 1953, at Kings Daughters Hospital in Perry, Iowa, the daughter of Eugene and Betty (Rothfus) Friedrichsen. Growing up, she was a member of the Peoples Peppy Pushers 4-H Club.

Donna graduated from Perry High School in 1971. She continued her education at La' James in Fort Dodge, earning her cosmetology degree in 1972. She began her career working at Spurgeon's Beauty Parlor in downtown Perry.

Donna later married and moved to Germany, where her husband was stationed with the U.S. Army. While living there, they welcomed their son, Chad. Donna eventually returned to Iowa for a brief time before moving to Virginia. There, she later married again and was blessed with two more sons, Derek and Jonathan. While living in Virginia, Donna owned and operated Donna's House of Beauty.

Donna eventually returned home to Iowa and lived in Woodward with her father, Eugene. She later moved to Adel Manor, where she made her home for nearly 10 years and enjoyed many visits with her son and grandchildren. In 2024, Donna moved to Wesley on Grand in Des Moines.

Throughout her life, Donna enjoyed staying busy and being creative. She served as a den mother for Cub Scouts and enjoyed painting, especially alongside her mother, Betty. She also loved crafts, quilting, flowers—particularly sunflowers—and spending time in her garden. Donna had a special talent for growing blueberries, something she seemed to make look easy even when others couldn't.

Family was incredibly important to Donna, and she especially loved her boys and grandchildren. She was a kind and stoic woman who cared deeply for those around her. Donna also enjoyed playing Bingo and Yahtzee. She often used her Bingo winnings to collect snacks and treats that she happily shared with her nephew Tucker and her grandchildren.

Donna is survived by her sons, Chad (Tiffany) May of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Derek (Myrna) May of Rancho Cucamonga, California; grandchildren, Zane, Kendall, Addyson, Anabella, Benjamin, and Connor; siblings, Karen (Dick) Henson of Bayard, Norma (Charles) Seibert of Adel, Robert (Lisa) Friedrichsen of Wakonda, Iowa, and John (Beth) Friedrichsen of Osceola, Wisconsin; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Betty Friedrichsen; her son, Jonathan May; her brother, Gary Friedrichsen; and her sister, Jan Friedrichsen.