Donna M. Schminke
On Dec. 15, 2025, Donna Mae Schminke was called home to rest in the presence of the Lord in her room at The Towers assisted living facility in Garnavillo. Donna was born 96 years ago on May 6, 1929, to Harry and Hannah (Julia) Conner in Delhi. Her mother died when she was nine years old, so her aunts and cousins were an important part of her childhood, helping her father and older brother.
Donna graduated from Delhi High School in 1946. Three years ago, she attended her 76th high school reunion with a girlfriend in the class who picked Donna up in her new convertible. Donna said, “but on the highway, we put the top up so we didn’t mess up our hair!”
Donna attended Cedar Rapids Business College. After college, she worked in Cedar Rapids as a secretary at the Cherry Burrell manufacturing plant and then at Century Engineering.
As a single working woman, Donna had an adventurous spirit, taking a train or bus to Chicago to see shows with friends or traveling out to Idaho in the summers. She loved music and dancing, enjoying her weekend nights with her girlfriends at Danceland.
It was at Danceland where Donna met her soon-to-be husband, Marlin. While dating, she said she knew he was the one for her based on his integrity, good sense of humor and great dancing!
Marlin and Donna married on Oct. 21, 1951, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. Marlin joined the army and they both worked on base at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Donna worked as secretary to the major.
In 1953, Marlin was discharged from the army. They moved and bought a family farm west of Newhall, where they farmed until 1970.
Three children were born to Marlin and Donna: Julie, Dan and Janet.
In 1970, they moved from the farm to Strawberry Point. Donna worked as secretary to the superintendent at Starmont High School. Then Donna worked with Marlin in their farm management and real estate business, Iowa ProAg, as office manager, until they sold the business in 2005.
Donna loved visiting with others, even talking with those in the nursing home she didn’t know “so they weren’t so lonely,” she’d say. She kept busy gardening and tending to her many beautiful flowers.
The family experienced her competitive nature when Donna played cards or board games with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Laughter was guaranteed, even for the little one who got beat by grandma/great-grandma, because there was always “one more game” to try to win!
Donna most recently was a member of Mission in Christ Lutheran Church in Strawberry Point. She also attended and loved the Holy Spirit-filled Stone Church in Manchester.
In the last several years, Donna grew her personal relationship with the Lord. She loved her Savior and talked often about the special room filled with beautiful flowers He was preparing for her in her eternal home.
Donna is survived by her children, Julie (Dale) Fagner, Dan (Amy) Schminke and Janet (Gary) Kolb; seven grandchildren, Michelle Minard (Tony Rancatore), Mike (Sara) Minard, Brittany (Anthony) Stern, Brooke Schminke, Hailey (Drew) Suggs, Jennifer (Shawn) Erickson and Sara (Brian) Saunders; her 10 great-grandchildren, Sloan and Sawyer Minard, Kensley and Kolbie Stern, Scottie Suggs, Lilly, Hannah and Claire Erickson and Waylon and Stevi Saunders (Stevi due to meet her family in March of 2026); and sister-in-law, Ruth Oehlerich.
Donna joins her heavenly family: her husband of 54 years, Marlin; her parents, Harry and Julia Conner; her mother and father-in-law, Walter and Ilma Schminke; her brother, Harry (Junior) Conner; her granddaughter, Jessica Minard; and brothers/sisters-in-laws, Cliff and Lenore Thompson, Grant and Lois Wessling, Elaine and Duane Kromminga, Darwin Oehlerich, Wilfred (Butch) Schminke, Betty Britcher and Lois Conner.
Memorials may be directed to Central Lutheran School, Newhall or The Towers assisted living facility in Garnavillo.
The visitation and funeral service for Donna will be held in late spring 2026.
Inurnment will be at a later date at Saint John’s Lutheran Cemetery in rural Newhall.
Online condolences may be sent to www.leonard-mullerfh.com. Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in Strawberry Point is assisting the family.
