JOENS, Donna Mae (Olk) 1936-2018

JOENS, OLK, KIBSGAARD

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 3/12/2018 at 12:36:20

Services:
Friday, March 2, 2018 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 420 Harwood, Waterloo

Cemetery:
Garden of Memories Cemetery, Waterloo, Iowa

Memorials:
Our Savior's Lutheran Church's Music Dept., Nation Cottage of The Western Home Communities, or UnityPoint Hospice

Biography--

Donna Joens, 81, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and formerly of Waterloo, Iowa, died at Nation Cottage of the Western Home Communities on Saturday, February 24, 2018.

Donna Mae (Olk) Joens was born on July 8, 1936 in Franklin County, Iowa, daughter of Dagmar (Kibsgaard) and Ike Olk. She was the second child of six children: Norman (Eleanor) Olk, Deloris (Harold) Meyer, Larry (Emma) Olk, Iva (Stan) Griep, and Barb (Jim) Long. She graduated from Sheffield High School and went to attend Allen School of Nursing graduating in 1957.

While attending Allen, a classmate set up a blind date for Donna with David Dean Joens. They were married on April 20, 1958, in Sheffield. The young couple soon welcomed their three daughters (the Joens girls), Jacquelyne “Jackie” Joens of West Des Moines, Julie (Tom) Marsch of Hudson, and Jodi (Ralph) Torres of Orange County, Calif.

In 1985, Donna and David entered the wonderful adventure of being grandparents to: Bradley Abraham, Stephanie (Jerry) Gorman, Steven (Kelsey) Abraham, Jenny (Jeff) Redenius, Zachary Torres and Jillian Torres. In 2017, the couple excitedly became great-grandparents to Samuel Redenius and Jace Gorman. These additions to her family were some of Donna’s greatest sources of joy.

Donna worked as a nurse for Dr. Vernon Plager for 30 years. She then worked a year for Black Hawk Lutheran Ministries. She finished her career with 6 years at the Western Home Communities as the Director of Home Care, retiring in 1994.

Donna enjoyed many hobbies during her life. She was a talented seamstress and also enjoyed crocheting and doing counted cross stitch. She was an avid reader and loved playing cards. One of her greatest passions was music. She played the organ and piano for church and life celebrations. But, her favorite pastime was ballroom dancing with her lifetime dance partner, David.

For the final dozen years of her life, Donna gracefully fought the terrible disease Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. It robbed her of her ability to dance, walk, play the piano, read, crochet and all that kept her busy for so much of her life.

In spite of all the loss she experienced, her greatest passion remained – her faith and love of Jesus. Donna, a true woman of beauty, gracefully handled all that she endured with her devoted husband by her side and together they loved the Lord with whom she now celebrates healing and renewal.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Ike and Dagmar Olk; her sister, Deloris Meyer; her brother, Norman Olk; her in-laws, Elmer and Leona Joens; and her brother-in-law, Larry Joens.

SOURCE: Locke Funeral Home website