Smith, Donna Mae 1941-2009

SMITH, BROWNLEE, LUSCOMBE

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 3/5/2009 at 21:16:59

From: Mauer Johnson Funeral Home Website, March 5, 2009

Le Mars, Iowa – Donna M. Smith, 67, of Le Mars, Iowa passed away on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa. A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home of Le Mars. Burial will follow at the Onawa Cemetery. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Friends are invited to visit the family at Kim’s home located at 568 16th St SW.

Donna Mae Smith was born on August 16, 1941 on a farm near Battle Creek, Iowa to Marvin and Marie (Luscombe) Brownlee. She attended school in Ida Grove, Iowa and later assisted her mother with raising her siblings. Following her education, Donna worked as a waitress at various places including the Tip Top Café in Ida Grove.

On November 7, 1969 Donna and Larry Allen Smith were united in marriage at Odebolt, Iowa. They had met at the Orchid Club where they loved to dance. Donna then worked as a nurses’ aid in the area. In 1974 the family moved to Onawa, Iowa. Donna worked at Burgess Memorial Hospital in the obstetrics ward. They moved to Le Mars, Iowa in 1980. Donna worked at Brentwood, the Truck Haven Café, Aalfs Manufacturing and Tyson Foods. When her health declined Donna lived with her daughter Kim before becoming a resident at Plymouth Manor Care Center. Donna’s love for her family was first in her life. She loved to dance, sew, swim, bowl, decorate and was a huge Elvis fan.

She will be lovingly remembered by her husband Larry of Le Mars; a daughter Sheryl Rieling and her husband Will of Ida Grove, IA; a daughter Kim Miller of Le Mars; a son Allen Smith of Le Mars; a daughter Kelly Conroy and her husband Gary of Dublin, Ireland; grandchildren Sarah Benna, Caleb Benna, Samuel Rieling, Michelle Schultzen, Clarissa Nelson, Kristian Lowery, Joshua Lowery, Andreia Smith, Rejeana Smith, Shea Conroy, Meghan Conroy; great-grandchildren Dusty and Alyssa Schultzen; a brother Jim Brownlee and his wife Ardis of Sioux City, IA; bother Jerry Brownlee and his wife Sandy of Ida Grove, IA; Janis Schaffer and her husband Lyle of Galva, IA; a sister Dolores Williams of Ida Gorve, IA; a sister Dorothy Porter and her husband Richard of Lake View, IA.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a grandson Michael Mc Granahan; and a brother-in-law Ray Williams.