Donovan, Dorcas 1956-2010

DONOVAN, MILLER, FRANKEN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/3/2010 at 19:43:26

Donovan, Dorcas
Home Town: Lilydale, MN formerly of Spirit Lake, IA
Deceased Date: Fri., March 19, 2010

Service: Tues., Mar. 23, 2010
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Address: Peace Lutheran Church
2512 380th Street
Sioux Center, IA 51250

　

Obituary: Dorcas Rita Donovan, age 54, beloved friend, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Friday, March 19, 2010, after a courageous two-year battle with cancer. She is survived by her brothers Michael (Jordan) Franken and Daniel (Donna) Franken, her sisters Rebecca (Dave) Jauquet, Priscilla Franken, Martha (Jim) Nodland, identical twin-sister Diana (Thurston) Crawford, her husband Dr. L.T. Donovan, her daughters Adrienne (Doug) Fahrforth, Elizabeth Donovan, her son Christian Donovan (Jenny Sharma), her grandson Carson Fahrforth and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in passing by parents, Joe and Ruth Franken, sister Rachel Franken, and brother Phillip Franken.

Dorcas was born in Sioux Center, Iowa, to Joe and Ruth (Miller) Franken on February 29, 1956. She attended Sioux Center High School, graduating in 1974. She went on to nurse’s training, earning an associate’s degree from Western Iowa Tech in 1976 and also earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Westmar College, in LeMars, Iowa. She went to work in psychiatric nursing, working at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. She met her future husband, L.T. in Des Moines. They were married on May 30, 1980, in Estherville, Iowa, and moved to Honolulu, Hawaii after L.T. joined the United States Army. After living in Hawaii, they later moved to Fort Knox, Kentucky, where Dorcas gave birth to their first child Adrienne, in 1981. Their second child, Elizabeth was also born in Kentucky in 1983. From Kentucky, they moved to Augusta, Georgia, where they had their third child, Christi
an, in 1984. After several more moves to Washington, D.C.; El, Paso, Texas; and Rome, Georgia, L.T. was honorably discharged from the Army and the family settled in Spirit Lake, Iowa. After all three children graduated from high school, Dorcas and L.T. moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota.

The family would like to thank the physicians, nurses, and staff at the University of Minnesota Fairview Hospital and the Masonic Cancer Clinic for all of their help during Dorcas’ treatment.

Dorcas enjoyed painting during her free time, taking long walks along the Mississippi River, and spending time with her family, serving as a conduit to keep everyone in her large extended family in touch. Most of all, she was proud of her volunteer work at the local Veterans Administration hospital. We will always remember her for kindness and charity towards other, her sense of humor, and her endless love for friends and family. A woman of a giving heart, she lived a full life in service of others, always willing help those in need. She will be greatly missed.
Source: Porter Funeral obit