Hamre, Donna Kennedy (1924-2017)

HAMRE, KENNEDY, BRILL, BUCKELS, JOHNSON, MEYERS

Posted By: Anita Vanderhill (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:04

Donna Marie Kennedy Hamre passed away in her sleep on November 3, 2017, at Maple Lake Assisted Living in Paw Paw, Michigan where she had resided for the past several years. She was 93 years old.

Donna was born to George Otto Kennedy and Margaret Brill Kennedy on July 8, 1924, in Kamrar, Iowa where she spent her entire childhood.
The Kennedys had 6 children: Evan, Theda, Robert (who died in infancy), Leah, Donna, and Faye Ann.

On August 20, 1942, Donna married Merle Hamre from Jewell. He was in the Navy at the time and they briefly lived in Omaha before he was sent overseas. After the war they lived in Laurel where Merle taught school and coached until he was accepted in the FBI in 1947. From there they were stationed in New York, Toledo, and finally Chicago. The Hamre family--Eloise, Anita, Paul, and Andrew lived the Chicago area until 1969 when Merle retired and they moved to Paw Paw Michigan.

Donna and Merle bought Baxter's Resort, where they had vacationed for many summers, and while Merle was hired as an administrator at Lake View Hospital Donna managed the resort until they sold the property and moved to Orlando, their next home for 20 years.

Donna and Merle then decided it was time to return to Paw Paw in their golden years. Surprisingly, the house they had owned in Paw Paw many years before was up for sale and they bought it--again! The house held many memories of weddings, birthdays, and finally Merle's death.

Throughout her life, Donna was always the "hub" of the family--the one in charge of celebrations, reunions, and news. She was devoted to her husband, her children, and great-grandchildren. She was the "hands-on" grandma who babysat, attended many school events, and remembered all the details so special to children.

Donna peacefully passed away at Maple Lake Assisted Living in Paw Paw. She is preceded in death by her husband Merle (1919--2011), her parents, her brother Evan, sisters Leah and Theda, and her grandson Michael Clarke. She is survived by her four children: Eloise (Horst) Hildebrandt/ Anita (Joel) Vanderhill/ Paul (Karen) Hamre/ Andy (Lisa) Hamre/ her sister Faye Ann Buckels/ and her 9 grandchildren and 14 greatchildren.