Max Sheldon Deal

Max Deal, 88, of West Des Moines, Iowa passed away at his home on September 14, 2025. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, October 4, 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 The American Cancer Society.

Max Sheldon Deal was born April 9, 1937, to John and Catherine Deal in Lake City, Iowa. The Deals moved several times, eventually returning to the family farm in Calhoun County. Max would graduate from high school in Somers, Iowa where he was a standout player in baseball and basketball.

After being honorably discharged from the US Army, Max attended Drake University as a journalism major. He was editor of the student paper and graduated in 1962. Max worked for Look magazine until it ceased publication in 1971. He and a partner then founded a direct mail business, Devan Direct Marketing, which they ran until selling it in 1995.

Max met and married Eva Mae Lundby in Des Moines. They were married 61 years, until Eva’s passing on August 31 of this year. 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.

Max remained athletic in adulthood, becoming an avid golfer and playing with friends and family on courses around the country. He coached his sons’ youth basketball and soccer teams, although that required more of his patience than athleticism. Max was a loving husband and father, a quiet man who possessed a sharp wit that drew people to him.

Preceding Max in death are his parents, his wife Eva, and sons James and Daniel. Survivors include his sons, daughters in law, grandsons, and sister Connie Blair of Seattle, Washington.