Donita R. Uden

Sheldon, Iowa

Donita R. Uden, 88, of Sheldon passed away on Friday, June 19, 2026, at Sanford Sheldon Senior Care. Per her wishes, a private celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Planned Parenthood, public television, the Sierra Club, the American Cancer Society, or the Lakes Art Center.

Arrangements are under the care of the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.

Donita R. Uden

Donita R. Uden, age 88, of Sheldon, Iowa, passed away peacefully on June 19, 2026.

Donita was born on August 17, 1937, in Nebraska, to Harold and Leone (Hurst) Geersen. She grew up spending time on the family ranch, where she helped her mother with baking and other household responsibilities, developing what became a lifelong talent as a skilled baker. Her family was actively involved in 4-H, and Donita attended the state fair numerous times, often giving presentations related to cooking. She also took music lessons as a child and became an accomplished pianist.

Donita graduated from South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota, where she excelled as a student and began what would become a lifelong love of learning. It was also there that she met her future husband, Orval, while tutoring him in chemistry. Orval and Donita were married on September 16, 1962, and together they shared 63 wonderful years.

After their marriage, Donita and Orval moved to the Uden farm, where she was warmly welcomed into the family by Allen and Beatrice Uden. Donita played a critical role in the success of the farm, from bookkeeping to helping during planting and harvest, to maintaining a large garden, and in the countless ways she kept things running smoothly.

Donita and Orval enjoyed dancing to big band music and, in later years, traveling together on cruises. They were also active in politics, volunteering as poll workers and hosting caucuses for the Democratic Party. Donita rarely missed an evening of Jeopardy! or her favorite programs on PBS. She was an avid reader of mysteries and newspapers, including The New York Times. Music was also an important part of Donita’s life. She played the organ at church for 50 years and accompanied many Sheldon High School students, including her daughters.

Above all, Donita loved her family. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, known affectionately as “Grammy” to her grandchildren. She cherished time spent with Scout and Rhys when they were young, including creating memories through time spent together at the family cottage on Lake Okoboji. She and Rhys also shared a love of sports, including baseball; Donita was a diehard St. Louis Cardinals fan

Donita is survived by her husband, Orval; her daughters, Tanya Uden-Holman and her husband, John Holman, of Iowa City, Iowa, and Tracy Uden and her husband, Kelley Pope, of Grand Junction, Colorado; and her grandchildren, Scout Uden-Holman of Dublin, Ireland, and Rhys Holman of Iowa City, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Leone Geersen; her beloved in-laws, Allen and Beatrice Uden; and her brother, Danny Geersen.

At Donita’s request, no service will be held. A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Planned Parenthood, public television, the Sierra Club, the American Cancer Society, or the Lakes Art Center.