Donna Jean (Mason) AINGER

AINGER, MASON, WENOS, GOEMAN, BEHRENDS, PETERSEN, BEENEN, BENTON, LEGGE, STADTLANDER, GUNDERSON, SEVERE, CLAUDE, AMOSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/28/2015 at 13:53:07

January 1, 1928 -- July 21, 2015

Donna J. Ainger, age 87, of Belmond, passed away Tuesday July 21, 2015 at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond. Funeral services for Donna J. Ainger will be held at 1:30 P.M. Monday July 27, 2015 at the United Methodist Church in Belmond. Pastor Leila Blackburn will officiate. Burial will take place in the Belmond Cemetery. Friends may call on the family of Donna J. Ainger starting at 4:00 P.M. Sunday July 26, 2015 at Dugger Funeral Home, 111 Luick’s Lane South in Belmond. Visitaton will continue for one hour prior to services on Monday at the church. Memorials may be made in Donna J. Ainger’s name to United Methodist Women in Belmond and/or the donor’s choice.

Donna Jean Mason was born January 1, 1928 to Thomas & Clara (Wenos) Mason in Clarion, IA. She was raised & educated in Clarion, graduating in 1946. She was the eighth of ten children and enjoyed being part of a large family. The family attended the United Church of Christ. As a youth, Donna was painfully shy, but she loved roller skating at the rink at Lake Cornelia, where many area youth used to hang out at that time. It was there that she met and fell in love with Francis Ainger. They were united in marriage in Belmond on Oct. 13, 1946, where they made their home & raised their four children. Donna was a member of the United Methodist Church in Belmond for more than 65 years, serving as a Sunday School & Bible School teacher in her younger years, and volunteering on many committees, projects & programs later on. She was a devoted member of Rebecca Circle and UMW, and was honored with a Special Service Award for her years of work. Faith, family & friends were the most important things in her life. Donna worked many various jobs beginning in her high school days into her mid 60’s. One of her favorites was the many years she worked at Montgomery Ward’s store. Over the years, she often helped her husband who was a carpenter, with the construction and finishing of many new homes he built in Belmond. Reading, gardening, canning, sewing, needlework, cards & games were some of Donna’s many hobbies. She was an avid puzzle solver and her favorite past time was playing Scrabble with a dear friend for over 50 years. She also enjoyed bowling and was on a weekly league for 25 years. She was a wonderful cook & baker, always making the job look easy. Her specialty was her perfect, delicious pies, as well as the anise candy she made for her family each year for Christmas. She always made the holidays special and inviting for everyone. Donna also loved traveling & was a very detailed planner, especially for family vacations when her children were younger. Some of her favorite places to visit were Hawaii, Alaska, the Grand Teton Mountains & New York City. She and Francis had traveled most regions of the country and some in Canada before Francis passed away in 2007. They also went on many fishing trips to Minnesota. They enjoyed over 60 years together.

Donna cherished the time she was able to spend with her 9 grandchildren & 17 great-grandchildren. She recently became a great-great-grandmother. She spent many hours babysitting and was always willing to help out in any way needed. She loved them dearly and they loved her back. They have many wonderful memories to cherish of time spent with both their Grandma and Grandpa. As Donna’s health and memory began to decline, she eventually struggled to be able to stay at home. In November of 2011, she became a resident of the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond. She continued to enjoy life and being surrounded by people. She was known by the caregivers as always being so gentle, pleasant and happy.

Donna is survived by sons John (Marcia), Pepperell, MA, Les (Barb) Eagle Grove, and Jeff Ainger, Belmond, daughter Kathi (David) Goeman, Belmond; 9 grandchildren ~ Johnny, Shawn, Aubrey (Nathan) Behrends, Anthony, Chad (Dani), Courtney (Tom) Dey, Ashley (Josh) Petersen, Steven (Tiffany) and Jared, 17 great-grandchildren ~ Sarah, Addyson, Jackson, Noah, Amelia, Levi, Natalie, Quinton, Kanon, Easton, Camden, Hudson, Dylan, Taylor, Kate, Cora & Contessa & one great-great-grandson Kalel; brothers-in-law Bill Beenen and Harold Ainger, Belmond, and sister-in-law Ruth Benton, Phoenix, AZ. Donna was preceded in death by her husband Francis, her parents, and her siblings, Edna Legge, Bonnie Stadtlander, Isabelle Gunderson, Leona Severe, Kenny Mason, Erma Claude, Walter Mason, Lila Amonson & Shirley Beenen; several sisters and brothers-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.

DUGGER FUNERAL HOMES -- BELMOND, IOWA
http://www.duggerfunerals.com/CurrentServices.html