Donna Richardson Ditzel-Rauch was born July 19, 1918, the daughter of Cecil and William Richardson of rural Auburn. Donna was educated in a rural Sac County school and graduated from Auburn High School. She attended Buena Vista College and taught one year in a rural school in Sac County. When Donna was united in marriage June 16, 1939, to Henry N. Ditzel of Lytton, Robert and Marcelyn, children of Henry, gained a wonderful mother. Henry died in 1974.

Donna’s loves were her family, her church, her music and her community. During W.W. II, Donna was active in the local Red Cross unit and served as chairperson. She was employed for many years in the local grocery stores. During that time, she was the first woman in Lytton history to serve on the local school board. She left the grocery business to assume the job of the superintendent’s secretary of the Lytton School system where she remained until retiring in 1983.

She was active in the Lytton Women’s Club, particularly in the Music Club and enjoyed the performances of this group. She participated in many vocal groups, being active in the Lutheran Church Choir and in the many community events held over the years.

In November 1985, she married Edward Rauch, a country schoolmate of years past. They loved to dance and travel together.

Donna passed away at Shady Oaks Care Center in Lake City, Iowa on Thursday, November 20, 2008. She is survived by her beloved children, Robert and Janet Ditzel of Loveland, Colorado and Marcelyn Vogel of Marion, Iowa. She is also mourned by grandchildren: Martin, James and Barbara of Colorado and Kathleen and Kevin of Iowa, and their families including six great-grandsons and two great-granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her parents and husbands Henry Ditzel in 1974 and Edward Rauch in 1997.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, November 24th at Emanuel-St. John Lutheran Church in Lytton with Pastor Wayne Pfannkuch officiating. Burial will be at the Emanuel Lutheran Cemetery under the direction of the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home.

Visitation is from 2:00-5:00 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home in Sac City with cremation to follow.

A memorial has been established to the Lytton Town Crier.