Deborah Christine Payne, 72, died Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, at Southeast Iowa Home Health & Hospice, West Burlington, after a battle with cancer and dementia.
Deb was born a fiery redhead Dec. 28, 1950, in rural Hennepin County, Minn., where she grew up on a dairy cow farm, to Madelyn Beatrice Kevitt Rosendahl and Robert William Rosendahl II. She leaves behind two siblings, who she was very close to and loved dearly, Renee Carr of Arizona, and Robert "Bob" Rosendahl of Oklahoma.
Deb married her soul mate, David Anthony "Tony" Payne II, on June 15, 1970, in King, Wash. The two met while living in Seattle, where Tony was stationed during his time in the U.S. Navy. After marrying, they moved to Tony’s hometown of Ottumwa where they built a beautiful life together while Tony worked 40 years with USPS.
After his retirement, they traveled and settled down in Oklahoma. They loved scenic routes, small antique shops and being on the road, and most of all, each other. They are reunited together in Heaven, after Tony’s passing Feb. 8, 2013, where I’m sure he was waiting for his “Little Debbie Cakes” with arms wide open.
Deb was a homemaker who fiercely loved her family, enjoyed spending time in her beautiful garden, swimming, interior decorating, and a good mystery novel. Her husband and her son were her world and she loved spending summers with her son, David Anthony Payne III, his wife, Kellie Lynn Payne, and her only grandchild, Lindzie Ashlyn Payne at her home on Lake Eufaula. She loved being a grandmother, and preferred to be lovingly referred to as “Mammy.” She lived long enough to become a great-grandmother to a set of twins, Stella and Milo, who she absolutely adored. She leaves a void in the lives of those she leaves behind and her loud laughter, big smile, generosity, and charm will not easily be forgotten.
Cremation will be handled by Iowa Cremation Society of Cedar Rapids. A small ceremony will be held with just close family at their rural property.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations can be made to Southeast Iowa Regional Home Health & Hospice.