Obituary for Donna Rae Rasmussen (Poulson)
Donna Rae Rasmussen (Poulson), 76, of Le Mars, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend and teacher, passed away suddenly from medical complications on February 17, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones. Donna’s Final Curtain Call will take place at 5 p.m. on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at Gehlen Catholic High School Gymnasium in Le Mars. The family asks that attendees wear their favorite Turn Around concert apparel or comical shirt. Following the Curtain Call Celebration we will have a gathering at The Turn Around, located at 127 Central Ave NW in Le Mars. We will have boxed wine (Donna’s Favorite) and noshes/food!
Donna was born December 26, 1946, to John Edward and Darlene Doris (Klein) Poulson in Storm Lake, Iowa. Most of her childhood was spent in Exira and Emmetsburg, Iowa, and she graduated from Clinton High School. In 1969, she graduated from Iowa State University with Bachelor of Science in Physical Education/Dance Option, where she learned the art of dance from Betty Toman through the Orchesis Dance Company. She was also a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, and was runner up VEISHA Queen, and Bomb Beauty. Donna brought her many talents to Le Mars, where she founded The Turn Around Dance Studio with her husband, Gale, as the business manager.
Donna’s life’s work allowed thousands of dancers to walk through the doors of the TTA to find a second home and a place of refuge. Many now return as teachers, alumni, or parents, bringing their own children to share a love of dance and a greater love that Donna created, family. The Turn Around celebrates 45 years of business this year, as Sam, Mike, and Cope continue to grow her legacy. While in Le Mars, she also devoted her time to the community through the Postal Playhouse, the Presbyterian United Church of Christ, WITCC, Questers and countless games of Bridge. She loved her life snuggled in her home, playing videogames, watching Fox News, doting on her grandson who lived next door and finding concerns about her dog Joe. She laughed, she loved, she hugged!
Donna was survived by daughters Summer (fiancée, Doug Lundburg) of Davenport, Iowa and Samantha (Mike Copeland) of Le Mars, Iowa; grandchildren Elizabeth (fiancée, Jonah Adkisson), Copeland, and bonus grandchild Yanze “Felix” Wu of Beijing, China; great-grandchild Luna; brother-in-law Noel (Sybil) of Des Moines, Iowa, sister-in-law Linda Meiners of Columbus, Ohio, step-mother Mary Poulson of Appleton, Wisconsin; cousins, and thousands of The Turn Around (TTA) family members whose lives she has touched in so many ways. She will be missed by all.
Donna is preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Gale; her mother, father, mother-in-law; father-in-law; and best friend.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to one of the following charities that were near and dear to Donna’s heart: Tunnel to Towers, SIDs Chapter of Iowa, and Wet Nose Rescue of Le Mars.
Donna was born December 26, 1946, to John Edward and Darlene Doris (Klein) Poulson in Storm Lake, Iowa. Most of her childhood was spent in Exira and Emmetsburg, Iowa, and she graduated from Clinton High School. In 1969, she graduated from Iowa State University with Bachelor of Science in Physical Education/Dance Option, where she learned the art of dance from Betty Toman through the Orchesis Dance Company. She was also a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, and was runner up VEISHA Queen, and Bomb Beauty. Donna brought her many talents to Le Mars, where she founded The Turn Around Dance Studio with her husband, Gale, as the business manager.
Donna’s life’s work allowed thousands of dancers to walk through the doors of the TTA to find a second home and a place of refuge. Many now return as teachers, alumni, or parents, bringing their own children to share a love of dance and a greater love that Donna created, family. The Turn Around celebrates 45 years of business this year, as Sam, Mike, and Cope continue to grow her legacy. While in Le Mars, she also devoted her time to the community through the Postal Playhouse, the Presbyterian United Church of Christ, WITCC, Questers and countless games of Bridge. She loved her life snuggled in her home, playing videogames, watching Fox News, doting on her grandson who lived next door and finding concerns about her dog Joe. She laughed, she loved, she hugged!
Donna was survived by daughters Summer (fiancée, Doug Lundburg) of Davenport, Iowa and Samantha (Mike Copeland) of Le Mars, Iowa; grandchildren Elizabeth (fiancée, Jonah Adkisson), Copeland, and bonus grandchild Yanze “Felix” Wu of Beijing, China; great-grandchild Luna; brother-in-law Noel (Sybil) of Des Moines, Iowa, sister-in-law Linda Meiners of Columbus, Ohio, step-mother Mary Poulson of Appleton, Wisconsin; cousins, and thousands of The Turn Around (TTA) family members whose lives she has touched in so many ways. She will be missed by all.
Donna is preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Gale; her mother, father, mother-in-law; father-in-law; and best friend.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to one of the following charities that were near and dear to Donna’s heart: Tunnel to Towers, SIDs Chapter of Iowa, and Wet Nose Rescue of Le Mars.