Deborah ‘Deb’ Sickles

Wednesday, February 26, 2025 6:55 pm

Deborah “Deb” Sickles, 76, of Dorchester, died Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 at the University of Iowa City Hospitals in Iowa City. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her family.

Deborah Sue Johnson was born to Harlan and Elinor Kannenberg-Johnson on June 30, 1948 in Waukon. Deb graduated from Waukon High School in 1966. She worked at the Lansing Button Factory while going to school at Northeast Iowa Community College to become a beautician; she graduated in 1969. She worked at Althea’s beauty shop in Waukon for over 30 years, later owning and operating until she retired in 2004.

In 1989 she married the love of her life, Rodney Sickles. They made their home near Dorchester. She spent countless hours outside working in the garden, tending to flowers and perhaps alleviating some ditches of their flowers. She enjoyed mushroom hunting, fishing, cooking and baking goodies, especially during the holidays. She loved canning and taught the younger generations how to can. Deb was an avid reader of mystery books. She loved surfing the internet and commenting on all of her loved ones’ posts on Facebook. You could find her puttering around the yard in the company of chickens, and teaching old dogs new tricks, such as pulling weeds. Deborah was a breast cancer survivor for 17 years.

Survivors include her husband, Rod Sickles; children: Heidi (Rory) Tegtmeier, Jake Bresnahan (Chasity May) and Jodie Bresnahan (Tyler Hemesath); brother, Dave Johnson; sister-in-law, Becky (Curtis) See; brother-in-law, Bubba (Bev) Sickles; grandchildren: Madi Hugen, Alex Hugen, Chloe Hughes (Kory Schwan) and Nick Farley; great-grandchild, Dean Schwan; and many nieces and nephews.

Deb was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Dianne Johnson; mother and father-in-law, Alivina and Art Sickles; sister-in-law, Ruth Sunkle; and brother-in-law, Rich Sickles.

There are no funeral services planned. A private family gathering will be held at a later date.

Iowa Cremation Services are handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the family at 2484 Balsam Road, Dorchester, IA 52140.