The Life of DAWN LEA SULLENBERGER
Dawn Sullenberger, 73, of Pleasant Hill, passed away after a long, valiant battle with Alzheimer''''s disease on November 5, 2016. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, November 9 at Iles Funeral Homes - Grandview Park Chapel, 3211 Hubbell Avenue, Des Moines. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, November 10 at Adventure-Life Church, 1700 8th Street SW in Altoona, with burial following at Highland Memory Gardens.
Dawn Lea Smiley was born in Rock Island, Illinois, on October 13, 1943, to Charles Smiley and Marjorie (Wilhite) Smiley. Her family later moved to West Des Moines, and she attended Valley High School. Dawn married Judson Awkerman in 1961, and they were married for 16 years. She married Harry (Max) Sullenberger in 1978, and they lived in the Sheridan Park area of Des Moines until Max''''s death in 2003.
Dawn never met a pet she didn''''t love and enjoyed a long career caring for animals as a veterinary assistant and dog groomer.
She is survived by her daughters, Wendy Lyons (Gary) and Tammy Bickle (Mike); her sister, Toni Johnson (Steve); brothers, Terry Smiley (Cindy) and Barry Smiley (Beth); sister-in-law, Silia Smiley; her first husband, Jud; plus many beloved nieces and nephews.
Dawn was the best Nana in the world and will be greatly missed by Michael and Bambi Bickle; Gabrielle, Madeleine and Alexander Lyons; and great-grandson, Gavin.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Max; parents; brothers, Jack and Bob Smiley (a brother Duke, in childhood); and sisters, Mona Cohenour and Pat Meyer.
Memorials in loving memory of Dawn can be made to Adventure-Life Church in Altoona, where she was a long-time member.
Dawn''''s family wishes to thank her Courtyard Estates (Pleasant Hill) family for their loving care of Dawn for the past 4-1/2 years, along with Caring Initiatives Hospice, Gentiva Hospice and Aging Advocates for the blessing of their kind and caring support throughout Dawn''''s journey.
Arrangements by Iles Grandview Park Chapel.
Dawn Lea Smiley was born in Rock Island, Illinois, on October 13, 1943, to Charles Smiley and Marjorie (Wilhite) Smiley. Her family later moved to West Des Moines, and she attended Valley High School. Dawn married Judson Awkerman in 1961, and they were married for 16 years. She married Harry (Max) Sullenberger in 1978, and they lived in the Sheridan Park area of Des Moines until Max''''s death in 2003.
Dawn never met a pet she didn''''t love and enjoyed a long career caring for animals as a veterinary assistant and dog groomer.
She is survived by her daughters, Wendy Lyons (Gary) and Tammy Bickle (Mike); her sister, Toni Johnson (Steve); brothers, Terry Smiley (Cindy) and Barry Smiley (Beth); sister-in-law, Silia Smiley; her first husband, Jud; plus many beloved nieces and nephews.
Dawn was the best Nana in the world and will be greatly missed by Michael and Bambi Bickle; Gabrielle, Madeleine and Alexander Lyons; and great-grandson, Gavin.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Max; parents; brothers, Jack and Bob Smiley (a brother Duke, in childhood); and sisters, Mona Cohenour and Pat Meyer.
Memorials in loving memory of Dawn can be made to Adventure-Life Church in Altoona, where she was a long-time member.
Dawn''''s family wishes to thank her Courtyard Estates (Pleasant Hill) family for their loving care of Dawn for the past 4-1/2 years, along with Caring Initiatives Hospice, Gentiva Hospice and Aging Advocates for the blessing of their kind and caring support throughout Dawn''''s journey.
Arrangements by Iles Grandview Park Chapel.