Donald Sternberg

Funeral services for Donald Sternberg will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Carson. Burial with military honors will be in the Carson Cemetery. Visitation at the funeral home will be held one hour prior to the service with family greeting friends at 10:00 a.m. Loess Hills Funeral Home in Carson is caring for Donald and his family.

Memorials: Carson American Legion Post 556 316 Commercial St, Carson IA 51525

Donald (Chris) Lee Sternberg, son of Fred and Fannie Marie Green Sternberg, was born on January 15, 1927 in Honey Creek, IA, and died on April 13, 2026 at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, IA at the age of 99.

He grew up and attended school in Honey Creek, IA until 7th grade when his parents, Fred and Fannie Sternberg purchased a farm northwest of Carson, IA. He graduated from Carson High School in 1945 where he was an excellent athlete playing basketball and baseball. He entered the United States Army during WWII and became an expert rifleman as a military policeman stationed in Texas and Maryland.

He returned home and started farming in 1947. He met Mary Catherine Danielsen of Council Bluffs, IA in 1947 at a roller rink in Council Bluffs. They were married on June 10, 1949, at the First Baptist Church in Council Bluffs. They rented a house near his parents’ farm and spent seven years there before moving to a farm about a mile south of his parents. Donald and Mary purchased the family farm when his parents retired in 1970 and moved to Oakland, IA. Their son Rick Sternberg (Marsha) joined their farming operation.

He was a longtime member of the American Legion Post 556, the Last Man’s Club, and was a Carson town trustee for many years. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. He and his wife were members of the 10x8 pinochle club for over 40 years.

Following the death of his wife Mary in 2025, Donald welcomed his grandson Jacob Sternberg (Melissa) and great grandson Ruger to live and take care of him in his home.

He is preceded in death by his parents Fred and Fannie Green Sternberg, his wife Mary Catherine Danielsen Sternberg, his brother Jerry Sternberg and nephew J.C. Sternberg, his infant grandchildren Richard, Rodrick, and Ryan Sternberg, his brother-in-law Lloyd Danielsen, his sister-in-law Virginia Nelson and her husband Vernon Nelson, and nephew Dan Danielsen.

He is survived by his sister-in-law Norma Danielsen of Honey Creek, IA, his brother-in-law Albert Danielsen (Eleanor) of North Myrtle Beach, SC, his children Rick Sternberg (Marsha) of Carson, IA and Kristi Sternberg (John Fellows) of St. Louis, MO, five grandchildren Darcelle Swope (Shane) of Valley, NE, Jacob Sternberg (Melissa) of Carson, IA, Julianna Fellows (Akshay Bhosale) of Salt Lake City, UT, Michaela Fellows of St. Louis, MO, and Caroline Fellows of Columbia MO, and five great-grandchildren: Riley and Kelcy Swope, and Clayt (Kate), Koby, and Ruger Sternberg, and numerous nieces and nephews.