Dona Jean Van Hemert, 93, Boone, Iowa
BOONE, Iowa—Dona Jean Van Dusseldorp Van Hemert was born on October 5, 1932. She passed away peacefully at Westhaven Community Nursing Home in Boone, Iowa, on February 22, 2026. She was 93 years old.
Dona was the daughter of Grace (Vande Lune) and Jacob Van Dusseldorp. She lived most of her life in Pella, Iowa, and then in Oskaloosa, Iowa, before moving to Boone to live out her retirement years. She first attended a rural country school and then later Pella public schools, including high school at the old community center. She shared four children with Raymond Van Hemert. They are Debra (Debi) Burney, Sheryll (Sheri) Sullivan, Kathy Stursma, and Dennis (Denny) Van Hemert. In later years, after her children were grown, she cleaned dorm rooms at Central College in Pella.
As a young girl, she enjoyed riding her horse on the family farm. There was even a time that she, her brother, Ernie, and her parents led the Tulip Time parade in Pella riding their horses. There is a legend within the family that she loved her horse so much that when the family moved off of the farm into the town of Pella that she was allowed to keep it in the garage at their home. This piece of lore has never really been confirmed, but it makes for a good story.
An appreciation of music and her piano seemed to be a theme throughout Dona’s life. Within family treasures even lies a telegram from her father, who, when serving overseas during World War II, asked her to promise to keep practicing her piano lessons. That same piano served up some memories through the years for her children and grandchildren as well. Her children most likely know the song “Sentimental Journey” by heart because it was her favorite to perform for them. Her grandchildren will remember being allowed to bang on the keys and pretend they were proficient musicians.
Her love of music was also shown through her passion for watching her favorite performers on their weekly TV shows. These included Andy Williams, Perry Como, Dinah Shore, and especially the Lennon Sisters on the Lawrence Welk Show. A song that might remind her family of her is the Andy Williams version of “Moon River”. She also had other television shows that she watched faithfully, including the long-running soap opera, “As the World Turns”. Her children also might remember a penchant for watching the show, “Peyton Place” (an edgy show for its time period). The kids were strictly forbidden from it, but they would sneak out of their bedrooms to find her watching it, at which time she would usher them back to bed.
When her grandchildren came to visit her, they remember the special treats she always kept for them, including “Fizzies” to make fruity drinks and fruit roll-ups. In her yard, mulberry bushes were prominent, and the kids would gather them up often. She made them laugh with some of her sayings. For instance, when she found something to be especially silly, she would giggle and say, “Oh corn!” She had a special recipe for baked beans, and she was known for that dish at family reunions.
Dona’s greatest legacy is the family she loved and leaves behind. She was a sweet soul who absolutely adored having visits from her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great grandchildren. Her eyes would light up and she would lean in closely to hear what they were saying. She especially loved children. She will be dearly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents, Grace and Jacob Van Dusseldorp and her son-in-law, Alan.
Dona is survived by her brother, Ernie Van Dusseldorp; her children, Debi (Fallon) Burney, Sheri (Ken) Sullivan, Kathy Stursma and Denny (Terri) Van Hemert; Grandchildren, Jonyl Burney, Rusty (Ming Hsieh) Burney, Andrea Brouwer, Angela (Chong) Wong, Lindsey (Nick) Weber, Emily (Tom) Feldman, Ami (Troy) Fisher, Chad (Jaclyn) Stursma, Courtney (Travis) Van Lengen, Caitlyn (Mike) Carley; Great-Grandchildren, Jordan, Olivia, Emma, Bella, Aydah, Chayse, Cora, Jack, Holland, Sullivan, Brett (Danie) Fisher, Grey, Seth, Abigail, Sarah, Bethany, Rebekah, Myla, Ryley, Kai, Cal; Great-Great-Grandchildren, Reaksmey, Addisyn, Braxton, and Ava.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, March 16, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. at the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel, 1006 6th Street, Boone, with Pastor Joel Newman officiating. Visitation will start at 10:30 A.M. Burial will immediately follow in Linwood Park Cemetery, Boone.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets in Boone. Online condolences may be left to Dona’s family at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com
About the Author
