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Daniel Bartels, owner, grew up in the business with his dad and mom (Donald & Marvel).
After graduation from Northeast High School in Goose Lake, Iowa, he attended Upper Iowa University
to play basketball and obtain a business degree. He then went on to Gem City College in Quincy, IL
where he received a certificate in horology and later became a certified master watchmaker. He also
holds a GIA certificate in the diamond course. Besides being able to repair clock and watches, Dan
runs the store's laser welder to do jewelry repair and stone setting. Dan also does all appraisals.
Dan's hobbies include sports (Dan coached basketball at Goose Lake for 15 years) and walking his german
short hair pointer dog, Lilly
Sheralyn Bartels, owner, graduated from East Central High School in Miles, Iowa and later obtained a finance degree from Iowa State University. She married Daniel in 1994 and joined the business in 1995. Sheralyn runs the business side of Don's Jewelry including all advertising and buying. Dan and Sheralyn have 4 children. Nicole, a University of Iowa graduate with a Master's Degree, is a manager at Best Buy in Coralville. Janine, a UNI graduate, is married to Jordan Zantingh. They live in Pella and she teached at Pella Christian School. Beth graduated from Drake University, majoring in Finance and Marketing, and now lives back in Clinton with Ian Knutsen and works full time at the jewelry store. Beth will be handling the internet aspect of marketing for them. Matt and his wife Jordan also live in the area. Matt handles the internet division for McEleney Auto Center in Clinton. In her spare time, Sheralyn enjoys scrapbooking.
Donald Bartels started the business in 1959 with his wife Marvel who passed away on Christmas morning 2005. Donald still comes to work every day but is enjoying his new life with wife Sandi. They were married Jan. 2, 2007. Sandi has two sons. Josh and Ryan (and wife Julie) all live in the Des Moines area. Don and Sandi enjoy their farm, animals, and plants. The mole man keeps everyone busy! (Pictured here with Melissa's son Blake)
Alex Veith graduated from Mt Carroll, IL high school, received an associates degree in business from Highland Comm. College in Freeport, IL and went on to study the jewelry store management course at Gem City College in Quincy, IL. He joined the staff at Don's in 1994 repairing clocks. Alex became a parent in 2004 with the birth of his red-headed son Nathan! Alex has become Mt. Carroll's personal jeweler making deliveries, does many jewelry and watch repairs, and also loves waiting on customers. When you come into Don's, be sure to ask Alex how many clocks he has in his house!!
Ida Giebelstein joined the staff in 1997 after having worked in the banking industry with Sheralyn for many years. She is married to Denny who works at Ralston Purina. They have two children (Karen in Iowa and Paul in Florida) and 4 grandchildren. She enjoys fishing and spending time with her grandchildren. Ida is #1 in customer service and will help you with any questions in making your jewelry purchase.
Melissa Werner graduated from Clinton High School and joined the staff in 1986. She studied many GIA courses including diamonds, diamond grading, gem identification, identifying challenging synthetics, detecting treated emeralds, rubies, and sapphires, and colored stone grading. Colored stones, especially unique ones, are her passion. Besides testing colored stones for Don's, Melissa runs the computerized engraving machine and restrings pearls. Melissa's knowledge of jewelry has been a great asset to Don's. She married Steve in 1992. He works at 3M. They have two children. Rachal was born in 1998, and Blake was born in 2002. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys cooking and scrapbooking (with Sheralyn).
Cheryl Rettkowski joined the Don’s staff during their moving sale. She had so much fun that she decided to stay! Her laugh and smile will brighten anyone’s day. She is a true asset. Cheryl and her husband Ted love to travel, especially to jewelry shows!
Rodney Nyman says that being part of a family owned business isn't new to him, since he was part of one in Galesburg until it closed in 2005. Rodney attended Fargotstein Jewelry School in Littlerock, Arkansas, and also holds a GIA diamond certificate. He and his wife Sheryl still live in Galesburg, IL and have two daughters. Rodney enjoys music (playing the guitar) working out, and being a grandpa.
David Habben owner of Dave's Goldsmith Shop helps out one day a week. He brings his jewelry repair expertise to Don's on each Monday. Dave studied at Gem City College. Dave and his wife Betty live in Erie, Illinois, and have 3 grown children. But they are also foster parents of many. In his spare time, Dave enjoys golfing and his church related activities.
Allison Reyhons is one of the newest members of the Don's Jewelry family. Allison helps out on Saturdays mostly since she is a senior at Clinton High and a cheerleader. Allison attends First United Methodist Church. She also loves to scrapbook. Her smile is like a breath of fresh air! Allison will become a Hawkeye next year!
Jaime Frahm (Sheralyn's niece) also helps out on Saturdays. She is a junior at East Central where she is active playing volleyball.
Sheralyn Bartels, owner, graduated from East Central High School in Miles, Iowa and later obtained a finance degree from Iowa State University. She married Daniel in 1994 and joined the business in 1995. Sheralyn runs the business side of Don's Jewelry including all advertising and buying. Dan and Sheralyn have 4 children. Nicole, a University of Iowa graduate with a Master's Degree, is a manager at Best Buy in Coralville. Janine, a UNI graduate, is married to Jordan Zantingh. They live in Pella and she teached at Pella Christian School. Beth graduated from Drake University, majoring in Finance and Marketing, and now lives back in Clinton with Ian Knutsen and works full time at the jewelry store. Beth will be handling the internet aspect of marketing for them. Matt and his wife Jordan also live in the area. Matt handles the internet division for McEleney Auto Center in Clinton. In her spare time, Sheralyn enjoys scrapbooking.
Donald Bartels started the business in 1959 with his wife Marvel who passed away on Christmas morning 2005. Donald still comes to work every day but is enjoying his new life with wife Sandi. They were married Jan. 2, 2007. Sandi has two sons. Josh and Ryan (and wife Julie) all live in the Des Moines area. Don and Sandi enjoy their farm, animals, and plants. The mole man keeps everyone busy! (Pictured here with Melissa's son Blake)
Alex Veith graduated from Mt Carroll, IL high school, received an associates degree in business from Highland Comm. College in Freeport, IL and went on to study the jewelry store management course at Gem City College in Quincy, IL. He joined the staff at Don's in 1994 repairing clocks. Alex became a parent in 2004 with the birth of his red-headed son Nathan! Alex has become Mt. Carroll's personal jeweler making deliveries, does many jewelry and watch repairs, and also loves waiting on customers. When you come into Don's, be sure to ask Alex how many clocks he has in his house!!
Ida Giebelstein joined the staff in 1997 after having worked in the banking industry with Sheralyn for many years. She is married to Denny who works at Ralston Purina. They have two children (Karen in Iowa and Paul in Florida) and 4 grandchildren. She enjoys fishing and spending time with her grandchildren. Ida is #1 in customer service and will help you with any questions in making your jewelry purchase.
Melissa Werner graduated from Clinton High School and joined the staff in 1986. She studied many GIA courses including diamonds, diamond grading, gem identification, identifying challenging synthetics, detecting treated emeralds, rubies, and sapphires, and colored stone grading. Colored stones, especially unique ones, are her passion. Besides testing colored stones for Don's, Melissa runs the computerized engraving machine and restrings pearls. Melissa's knowledge of jewelry has been a great asset to Don's. She married Steve in 1992. He works at 3M. They have two children. Rachal was born in 1998, and Blake was born in 2002. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys cooking and scrapbooking (with Sheralyn).
Cheryl Rettkowski joined the Don’s staff during their moving sale. She had so much fun that she decided to stay! Her laugh and smile will brighten anyone’s day. She is a true asset. Cheryl and her husband Ted love to travel, especially to jewelry shows!
Rodney Nyman says that being part of a family owned business isn't new to him, since he was part of one in Galesburg until it closed in 2005. Rodney attended Fargotstein Jewelry School in Littlerock, Arkansas, and also holds a GIA diamond certificate. He and his wife Sheryl still live in Galesburg, IL and have two daughters. Rodney enjoys music (playing the guitar) working out, and being a grandpa.
David Habben owner of Dave's Goldsmith Shop helps out one day a week. He brings his jewelry repair expertise to Don's on each Monday. Dave studied at Gem City College. Dave and his wife Betty live in Erie, Illinois, and have 3 grown children. But they are also foster parents of many. In his spare time, Dave enjoys golfing and his church related activities.
Allison Reyhons is one of the newest members of the Don's Jewelry family. Allison helps out on Saturdays mostly since she is a senior at Clinton High and a cheerleader. Allison attends First United Methodist Church. She also loves to scrapbook. Her smile is like a breath of fresh air! Allison will become a Hawkeye next year!
Jaime Frahm (Sheralyn's niece) also helps out on Saturdays. She is a junior at East Central where she is active playing volleyball.