Deanna (Wendt) Ketelaar

Deanna May (Wendt) Ketelaar, age 56, passed away peacefully on Sunday afternoon May 31st 2020, surrounded by her loving and devoted husband Steve, daughter Nicole, mother Dorothy, sister Sheryl and Brother David after a brave and courageous battle with lung cancer. Her cancer was shockingly discovered on April 22nd when she was admitted for emergency spinal surgery. Deanna was not a smoker. Dee as we called her was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on July 30th 1963 to Leroy and Dorothy Wendt of Mechanicsville, Iowa. She grew up on a farm just north of Mechanicsville with her sister Sheryl and brother David and many family dogs. Deanna graduated from Lincoln Community High School in Stanwood, Iowa class of 1981 and from Iowa State University with a BA degree in Journalism and Mass Communications – Advertising Emphasis class of 1985. She married Steven Micheal Ketelaar on June 28th, 1986 in her hometown Presbyterian church in Mechanicsville, Iowa.

In nearly four decades of love, friendship and marriage Deanna and Steve lived in exciting cities such as Orlando, Florida. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dallas, Texas. Madison, Wisconsin. Jupiter, Florida and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida which she loved to explore. Deanna lit up a room with her smile and laugh, easily making friends where ever she was. Dee was a devoted mother to her daughter Nicole and a devoted daughter of Dorothy and Leroy.

Deanna was the CFO and Vice President of Voice Over Beach Studio with Steve. She enjoyed her exercise Pilates workouts and attended classes six days a week. She and Steve loved to explore the many restaurants and local landmarks wherever they lived. Dee quickly became the leader of her “Triathlon” local tours of interesting and historical places. Always full of curiosity and kindness, Dee was never one to shy away from trying new foods and growing trends that would later become mainstream. Her iPhone playlist was filled with everything from Sinatra to Ratt. She loved decorating with a Flamingo theme. Recently Dee and Steve became the popular husband and wife driving team for Zeke’s Golf Cart Taxis in the Jupiter inlet and Light House tourist areas making so many new friends with every trip.

Deanna is survived by her husband Steve Ketelaar, Daughter Nicole Ketelaar Duenas and son-in-law Omar Duenas, Mother Dorothy Wendt, Sister Sheryl Dohmen and her husband Bob Dohmen, Nephew Josh Dohmen and wife Ashley and their daughter Lorelai. Nephew Eric Dohmen. Brother David Wendt and wife Sara Wendt and their children Caden, Kiah and Henry. She is preceded in death by her father Leroy Wright Wendt and Grandmother Dorothy (Burgess) Wendt and Grandfather Herman Wendt. Grandfather Neil “CJ” Miller and Grandmother Cecil (Shrope) Miller.

A memorial service and celebration of life will happen sometime this summer in Mechanicsville, Iowa. In Lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in her name to the Iowa State University Foundation, 2505 University Boulevard, Ames, IA 50010, to benefit the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication or an organization that you feel makes a positive impact in the world.