Obituary of Ethel Catherine MacDonald

DYERSVILLE, IOWA Ethel Catherine MacDonald, 91, of Dubuque, Iowa; formerly of Dyersville, Iowa; Baltimore and Chesapeake Beach, Maryland; and Oxnard, California died at 1:32 a.m. Sunday, Mar. 13, 2016, at Hawkeye Care Center in Dubuque. In keeping with her wishes, her body was donated to the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. A Gathering of Remembrance will be held from 3 – 7 p.m. Tuesday, Mar. 15, 2016, at the Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville where a Memorial Service will commence at 6 p.m. Ethel was born on Sept. 18, 1924, in Centralia, Iowa, daughter of John and Ethel (Clemen) Pottebaum. She attended St. Anthony’s school and schools in Center Grove, Swiss Valley, and Holy Cross. She married Earl. E. MacDonald on Jan. 17, 1951. He preceded her in death on Feb. 13, 1972. Ethel worked at many jobs in the Dubuque area, most recently at John Deere. She also worked for the City of Baltimore. Ethel enjoyed walking around Chesapeake Beach’s boardwalk with her twin sister Amelia “Millie.” She was an expert at crocheting, an avid reader, and the life of any party. Surviving her are her children: Denise Clemen of Oxnard, CA, Michael (Mary Kay) MacDonald of Dyersville, Patrick MacDonald (special friend, Patti Alvey) of Jessup, MD, and Vanette (Ed) Hess of Worthington; a step-son, Joe MacDonald of Dubuque; 14 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Bernadette “Mickie” (Daniel) Leibfried, and sisters-in-law: Shirley Pottebaum and Darlene Pottebaum, all of Dubuque, several nieces and nephews, including David Dodson (special friend, Margie Wilson) of Chesapeake Beach, MD. She was also preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Lawrence (Mary Ann), Edward, and Leo; a sister, Mary (Ken) Nicks, and her twin sister, Amelia (Harold Clay “Don,” Jr.) Dodson; brother-in-law, Dale Snodgrass; a nephew Larry Pottebaum; a niece, Diane Nicks; a step-daughter, Mary Lou Brown; step daughter-in-law, Juanita MacDonald and a granddaughter, Deborah MacDonald. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Hospice of Dubuque and Hawkeye Care Center. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.