Gerdena Donahue

Gerdena Donahue, 94, of Monroe, died Tuesday May 3, 2016, surrounded by her family. In keeping with her wishes, there will be no funeral service. The family will hold a memorial service at the cemetery.

The daughter of Harley and Eileen Green, she was born Nov. 4, 1921, in Jasper County. Gerdena was a 1939 graduate of Monroe High School and attended Central College. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Monroe, where she professed her Christian faith at a young age.

In March 1944, she married Raymond Donahue in Mankato, Minn., and they spent most of their married years in Monroe. They had two sons, Lynn of Monroe and Bradley (Linda) of Des Moines; and a daughter, Sandra (Guy) Montag of Ankeny; six grandchildren, Rob (Tammy) Wickett, Stephane Phifer, Mark (Johnna) Donahue, Wendy Phifer, Shanna Donahue and Spencer (Shannon) Phifer; and seven great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Jennifer, Johnnie, Hunter, Isabelle, Mindy and Raymond.

Gerdena was preceded in death by her husband in 2002; her parents; sister Almeda Vander Ploeg; and dear friend JR “Buzz” Shoemaker.

Gerdena had been a resident of Park Centre Retirement Home in Newton since 2014. Her greatest pleasure came from doing things for her kids and grandkids, especially helping her sons in their ice cream store. She had been homemaker most of her life, but during the 1960s she worked at Nollen’s Gift shop in Newton. Gerdena was a very talented oil painter. She also loved camping and doing things with her family, especially with the all of the grandkids.

Memorials to Monroe First Baptist Church or the Monroe Fire Department may be sent to the Donahue Family at P.O. Box 914, Monroe, IA 50170.