Donald (Don) Desenberg, a 95-year-old native of Norwalk, passed away Monday, September 4, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, IA. Private funeral services for the immediate family will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 10:30 a.m.  Friends and extended family are invited to view live-streaming/video, which can be accessed on Donald's obituary page on Overton Funeral Home's website www.overtonfunerals.com. The inurnment will be in the Norwalk Cemetery.

Don was born in 1928 and has lived in Norwalk all of his life.  He was the third generation of Desenbergs in Norwalk.  Don graduated from Norwalk High School in 1946.  His favorite subjects were sports and music.

Don's first job at 13 years old was delivering the newspaper to the 320 Norwalk residents.  After high school, he worked as a payroll and billing clerk.  In 1951, the United States Army decided they wanted Don to be a drummer in the 317th Army Band stationed at Camp McCoy Wisconsin. He took pride in helping keep Wisconsin safe from the enemies during the Korean War.

After the Army, Don started his own real estate business which he operated for the next 50 years.  His contribution to the development, building, and selling of property in Norwalk was so prolific that at age 70 he was awarded the Norwalk Chamber Member of the Year.

Don continued the legacy of Desenberg bankers by being the longest-standing member of the Board of Directors for City State Bank (formerly Norwalk-Cumming State Bank), serving from 1968 until the time of his death. He gave back to his community throughout his life as a member of Kiwanis, Norwalk Business Association, Lion's Club, American Legion, committee chairman of the Boy Scouts, Norwalk Volunteer Fire Department, and was involved for over 40 years on condemnation boards at all levels of government.

Don was passionate about music.  It was an integral part of his soul, and he was an active drummer for 50 years.  He loved to share all types of music with his family and friends, and never turned down an opportunity to jam with other musicians.

It is challenging to describe Don's wonderfully rich life of accomplishment, contribution, and passion that he shared with so many over his 95 years. He was an amazing husband, father, grandfather and friend.   He was witty, kind, generous, humble, playful, talented, a skilled pitch player, down-to-earth, observant, dependable, compassionate, a lifelong learner, logical, gracious, inventive, full of boyish charm, proud of other's achievements, considerate, loving, funny as hell, grounded in common sense, appreciative, curious, an adept grudge-holder, careful, warm, sharp as a tack, liberal, accepting, big-hearted, a thoughtful gift giver, good-natured, private, and proud.  He was loved deeply by many.

Don's talents included his ability to kick a football over the high school, topple an outhouse, smoke on a moped, craft a buckeye, make a mean beef salad, spot a bullshitter, ride a cow, play the hell out of drums, hide things from Phyllis, poke the bear, share the weather forecast, and live life on his terms.

Donald is survived by his seven handsome children: Dennis (Barbara Jean) Desenberg, Mary Kay (Tim) Johnson, David Desenberg, Jan (Matt) Sparks, Maggie (John Weisser) Desenberg, Sally (Mark) Eggers, Amy (Brian Wines) Desenberg-Wines; eleven above-average grandchildren: Christopher and Eric Johnson, Michael Sparks, Patrick Desenberg, Tyler Desenberg, Jessica Schaffer, Sam Eggers, Emma and Ellen Wines, Ivan and Paul Weisser; eleven of the cutest and smartest great-grandchildren: Drew, Will, and Lydia Johnson, Ronin, Lincoln, Griffin, and Fiona Sparks, Thomas and Isaac Desenberg, and Marley and Jameson Schaffer; and many nieces, nephews and other family.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Phyllis; infant son, Michael; parents, George and Blanche Desenberg; siblings, Paul Desenberg and Mary Stageman.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Donald to Main Street School in Norwalk (non-profit school) or Norwalk Fire Department.