Deborah "Deb" Sickles

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

Deborah Sue Johnson was born to Harlan and Elinor Kannenberg-Johnson 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 (NICC) to become a beautician,  graduating in 1969. She then pursued her career at Althea’s beauty shop in Waukon for 30-plus years, later owning and operating the salon until she retired in 2004.

In 1989 she married the love of her life, Rodney Sickles, making 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 and fishing. Debbie also liked cooking and baking goodies, especially during the holidays. She loved canning and taught the younger generations how to.

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 has been a breast cancer survivor for 17 years.

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

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

There are no funeral services. A private family gathering will be held at a later date. Iowa Cremation Services is handling arrangements for the family. In lieu of flowers please send memorials to the family at 2484 Balsam Road, Dorchester, IA 52140.