Paula Marlene McDonald (Stowers)
March 30, 1940 — November 06, 2025
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Service Details
Paula Marlene McDonald (Stowers)
March 30,1940
Went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 6, 2025.
Born to James Earl Stowers and Lillian Lea Whaley Stowers on March 30, 1940.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, David Stowers, James (Jim) Stowers, Billy Joe Stowers and Willard (Willie) Stowers.
Among some of her favorite things to do, she loved connecting with God through walking in nature with her beloved husband Walt by her side holding hands. She loved counting deer to see how many they came across. Seems like the Iowa DNR could use her counts to monitor how many deer were being driven out of the city parks with all the modern updates. She loved counting how many turtles were sunning on the log, she also enjoyed looking for and identifying the birds in the parks and along the Des Moines and Racoon Rivers, especially the American Bald Eagles. Mom and dad always went together and went to every single park in the Des Moines area. Her favorite parks were Ft. Des Moines Park and Easter Lake. She loved the explosion of color the trees offered up in the Fall, the beautiful first white snow of the season that glistened like diamonds, the rebirth of flora and fauna that in the Spring exposed the promise of warmth that was on its way.
She encouraged her neighbors who were sick physically and spiritually by sharing the love of Jesus and exhibiting the hope she had in her heart. She also shared with her grandchildren who would have an ear to listen and hear of the promise of salvation and the simplicity of a life changed when accepting Jesus.
Her favorite verses were the verses that spoke to her at different times and circumstances in her life. But she would want everyone to read and hear John 3:16; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that who-so-ever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
She is survived by her loving husband of 45 years and 6 months Walter (Walt) McDonald; her five children, Norma Belew (Brian) of Norwalk, IA., Rodney Heiselman (Sue) of Las Vegas, NV., Larry Heiselman (Kristen) of Oquawka, IL, Jennifer Forman (B.G.) of Van Horn, TX., Walter McDonald Jr of Des Moines, IA; and her brothers, Earl Stowers of Otley, IA and Paul (Cindy) Stowers of Richland, IA.
She was, is and will forever remain a treasured wife in the heart of her beloved husband Walt and a treasured mother to her five children, 10 grandchildren and numerous (couldn’t count them all) great grandchildren.
For anyone interested in learning more about Jesus and how to be saved to a new life, please contact Pastor Mark Austin of Southtown Pentecostal Church where she was a longtime member.
A graveside service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery; 1 NE 60th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to UnityPoint Taylor House of Des Moines, IA where she spent her last several days. The staff were not only very professional but exemplary in care and compassion to their patients and the patients’ families.
Or consider donating to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for the care and maintenance of habitats so local wildlife can be enjoyed by future generations. And possibly repopulate the deer that are missing that mom couldn’t find in her count.
Jennifer McDonald
11/10/2025
DO not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glimpse of snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gently Autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft star shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die.
Norma Heiselman Belew
11/09/2025
To My Treasured Mother, October 20, 2025
From your first breath to your last, God had His hand upon you. While you were growing up, He was by your side protecting you from harm so that you would fulfill His plan for you. You and your family endured difficult times to prepare you for life. To prepare you to be a wife, a mother and friend.
My earliest memories of you were of someone who loved me and my brothers, always providing for us and doing what was necessary to protect us from harm that others in this wicked world could potentially do to us. That was not an easy feat as I later learned when I had my own son and knew in my heart what to do, which was necessary to protect him, no matter what the cost.
I was fortunate that you had a sense of humor that would teach me to laugh despite myself. I remember many moments of smiles that turn to giggles, then morphed into laughter, that brought tears. Those were the best tears I ever had the pleasure of having.
You were an example of being a mom and protector, educator and comedian. There are many books written by many authors that claimed they knew just how you should raise your children. In the end, you knew the Bible was and is the best provision of instruction for how to raise godly sons and daughters and how to protect them from the dangers this wicked world was throwing at them.
God heard every prayer you whispered for each one of us as we got older. We all made good decisions, probably more poor decisions than good. Each experience, teaching us and correcting us.
You taught us that you would not be in our lives forever, that one day you would be leaving this earth to go home. You made sure that when we were undecided about anything, as we made our way through this life, that we turn to God for the answer and He would direct us. He would not let us down as mankind did and still does.
No one is perfect, but we have an example in Jesus Christ, and we strive to be more like Him. I am so thankful that God made you, my mother. With God’s help, you provided the direction we needed to go, and it was always through the Bible and through much prayer. Our prayers are our conversations with our Holy God, our Creator, showing all mercy and grace towards us, and our relationship with Jesus. Jesus our Redeemer, our Savior, our Friend, Counselor, Mentor and Teacher.
I am profoundly saddened in my heart as you near your journey’s end and nearing the completion of your work here on earth. My heart breaks at the prospect of not hearing your voice on the other end of the phone or seeing another text from you. And knowing you will not be here to offer up any more prayers for us.
But I do know as a born-again believer in Jesus Christ that this is not the last chapter or the last page. The moment you exhale your last breath here, I know Jesus will have your hand as your inhale your next breath and step into eternity with Him. Armed with that knowledge, it gives me peace, comfort and hope. You will be alive forever without pain, angst or suffering that is of this broken world.
I will see you again soon mom.
I love you.
PS. I had a vision on the day of November 6th (before you passed away). I saw Jesus standing in front of a long table fully dressed out with a bountiful harvest. He was looking at the crowd standing off to His side as they were rejoicing. He turned and looked slightly in another direction, but I could still see Jesus’ face, and He had an indescribable smile as He reached out His hand and all around Him were welcoming you home. My heart was at peace, and I looked forward to telling you about it. But I never got the chance. You had been welcomed home.
Jackie Harris Keller
11/09/2025
I never got to meet her. We would text each other. She was such a lovely lady. My deepest condolence to her family. 😢 Sorry I never got to meet her 😔