Donald Francis Foley

Donald Francis Foley

Cedar Rapids

Donald Francis Foley known to all of us as “Donny” was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident on Sunday evening, Aug. 21, 2022.

He was born on Feb. 7, 1961, Donny was the 6th of Ron and Mary Foley’s 8 children. He was raised in Hopkinton, Iowa. and attended Maquoketa Valley schools. After graduation, he moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he worked for Cedar Rapids Inc, Ratheon, Nesper sign and drove Ready Mix truck. In 1982, he moved to Santa Barbara with his sister, Diane. After a year of California, he returned to Iowa and married his dear friend, Connie Clark and settled in Lincolnway for 10 years. Later he lived in Urbana for a number of years where he perfomed in parades as a Shriner clown and also worked as an EMT. He moved back to California in 2005 where he traveled around the country working at nuclear power plant safety shutdowns. He bought his present home near Colfax, Calif., in 2013.

Donny started dancing 25 years ago and had become an expert – had even started teaching private lessons in his own dance studio. He studied dancing with a passion, practiced every chance he got and invested in all types of dance classes. Dancing opened a whole new life of friendships and desire to share his passion for dance with others. It’s a rare dance floor that doesn’t have his steps on it. On the night of the accident Donny had just left a dance lesson where he had been teaching a group of youngsters. We can’t understand how he lost control of his bike, or how this kind, compassionate and funny man could so suddenly be taken from us. We know he did not suffer and would not have wanted to live his life with pain that would have prevented him from dancing again.

Don was preceded in death by his father, mother and brother, Dave.

He is survived by his sisters, Debbie Sauerbier (Chuck) Arroyo Grande, Calif., Diane Stevenson Gold Run, Calif., Dannette Trinidad (Henry) Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Dienielda Foley Circle Pines, Minn., and Delinda Mull (Tony) Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and brother, Dan Foley (Terese) Plymouth, Minn. He has 12 nieces and nephews and 18 great-nieces and -nephews. He has sadly left behind his dear “special” lady friend, Terry Trujillo, his entire dance community, many dear friends, neighbors and a huge extended family.

He will be remembered for his sense of humor, warm smile and kind generous heart and of course, his incredible dancing talent.

Celebration of Life will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28, at the Elks Lodge in Auburn, Calif. Another Celebration of Life will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling St., SW.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com.