Eva Mae Deal

Eva M. Deal, 86, of Des Moines, Iowa passed away the morning of August 31, 2025. A Memorial Service will be held Monday, September 8, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at McLaren's Resthaven Chapel, 801 19th Street, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Samaritan’s Purse.

Eva Mae (Lundby) Deal was born September 5, 1938 to C.O. (Clarence) and Olga Lundby in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Her identical twin sister was stillborn.

C.O. and Olga were schoolteachers in Gilmore City. At age two, the family moved to New Virginia, Iowa where C.O. was school superintendent until his death. Growing up with a music teacher mother, Eva was active in both choir and band in school. Eva was a cheerleader, class president, and accompanied the choir on piano. She taught dance and piano while in high school. Eva attended Drake University where she belonged to Alpha Phi sorority and sang in the Grace Methodist Church choir. After graduating in 1960, she was an elementary school teacher, teaching in both California and Iowa.

Eva met and married Max Deal in Des Moines. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on April 18, 2024. To this union were born five sons: James (d. 2022), Daniel (d. 2010), John (Karen) of New Orleans, Damon of West Des Moines, Morgan (Tiffany) of Clive, and grandsons Max and George of Clive.

Eva was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Des Moines. She was a Sunday school teacher, Bible school teacher, a Cub Scout den mother and homeroom school mother for multiple sons, and a school band monitor. Eva held every office in the women’s church organization WELCA. She was also in two choirs at church: vocal and handbells.

Survivors include her husband Max, sons, daughters in law, grandsons, and sister Erin Fox of Danbury, Wisconsin.

Preceding Eva in death are her parents, brother Eric Lundby, and her sons James and Daniel.