Donella D. Rossi

Donella D. Rossi, 74, of Creston, died Dec. 9, 2025, at her home in Creston. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, at First Baptist Church in Creston. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, 10-11 a.m., at First Baptist Church. Pastor Dave Tebbenkamp will officiate. Burial will be at a later date. Powers Funeral Home in Creston is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials are to be decided. Online condolences may be made at www.powersfh.com.

Once upon a time there was a little girl that lived on a farm in Minnesota with her parents, along with her two sisters and brother. While this little girl enjoyed life on the farm with her family, she was often lonely and at times felt empty. One Sunday while sitting in church, she realized Jesus could fill the emptiness. She went forward after the church service. Her pastor explained that the only way to heaven is through simple faith in God the Father. She realized all mankind are sinners and that Jesus died and rose again to pay the penalty for that sin.

She claimed the verse in Romans 10:9 “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” That day changed this little girl’s life forever.

As this little girl grew up, she realized that farm life was not her destiny. She attended Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, while searching for the purpose God had for her life. After graduation, she became a surgical technician and worked in the surgery department at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. It was through this job she had the opportunity to travel to Haiti on several humanitarian medical missions. She enjoyed helping people and seeing new cultures. She never married nor had children of her own but enjoyed the closeness of family with the Saylor family and the Morrison family. She invested in their children, especially as they grew into their teens and adulthood.

She often traveled abroad taking several trips to Israel and Europe with Dr. Manfred Kober’s tour group. She also enjoyed several cruises and cherished the friends she met on her travels.

As many of you already know, this little girl is Donella Rossi, born Oct. 19, 1951, in Minnesota, and was deceased on Dec. 9, 2025, in Creston.

She will be missed greatly by her sisters, Judy Peterson, Mary Rossi (Bob Schuette and family); brother Kirk Rossi; Bill and Jeanie Saylor; Jacob and Amber Saylor; Jason and Amanda Schrepfer; Zach and Jamie Saylor and families; Bill and Helen Morrison and children; Krystal Osuji and Jewel Morrison; Jay and Faith Zellweger and family and her church families at First Baptist Church in Creston and First Baptist Church in Kasson, Minnesota.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Caryl and Caroline Rossi. As we say goodbye, we have the firm confidence she is in heaven with our Lord, Jesus Christ, and that we all can have the opportunity to see her again someday if we place our trust in Him.