Dawn Gansen

Dawn M. Gansen, age 65, of Elma, IA passed away on Saturday, October 2, 2021 at her home with her loving husband by her side. A Graveside Service will be held at 3:00 PM on Monday, October 11, 2021 at Howard Cemetery in Elma. A Celebration of Life will be held immediately following at Elma Memorial Hall. Online condolences may be left at www.conway-markhamfh.com. Memorials may be directed to the family. Dawn Mareen was born August 24, 1956, the eldest daughter of Ralph and Gloria (Bublitz) Stevenson. She attended and graduated from Crestwood High School. After graduating, Dawn furthered her education at Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar where she obtained her degree in Business. She began working as the secretary for Cargil in Cresco, IA. As a young adult of the 1970's, Dawn enjoyed dancing and going to discos with her friends. While boogying on the dance floor she bumped into Bob Gansen. The couple fell in love and were united in marriage on September 8, 1979 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Elma. They made their life in Elma where they ran the bowling alley and golf course. Dawn was instrumental in assisting Bob with designing, building and operating Maple Heights Golf Course. When Bob began his carpentry business, Dawn managed the books for the company. They truly made an inseparable pair. Dawn enjoyed bowling, and golfing. She loved horses, even forcing Bob to drive over four hours on a trip to Florida to watch the Lipizzaner Stallions. Together, they enjoyed traveling. Those left to cherish her memories are her husband, Bob Gansen of Elma, her father, Ralph (Shirley) Stevenson of Ionia; her sisters, Jo (Ron) Dugan, Connie (Kent) Vrieze, both of Floyd, Valerie (Tom) Schrage of Tiffin, IA and Janice Schmidtke of Mason City; her mother-in-law, Eleanore Gansen of Elma; brothers-in-law, Ken (Jamie) Gansen of Elma and Richard (Lori) of Brownsdale, MN; her sisters-in-law, Mary Jo (Denny) Fitzgerald of Elma and Jayne (Rusty Conway) Joelle in California; numerous nieces and nephews and extended family. She was preceded in death by her mother, Gloria Stevenson; and father-in-law, Joseph Gansen.