Donna J. (Roden) Wolter, 10 Aug 1958 - 15 Oct 2024

WOLTER, RODEN, CAIN, WETS, NOWERS, PRATT, ALBERS

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 10/25/2024 at 13:33:12

Donna J. (Roden) Wolter, 86, of Marion, passed away on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 in Hiawatha, IA. She was born December 29, 1936 in Maquoketa, Iowa to Harvey and Thelma (Cain) Roden. She grew up on her family’s heritage farm near Elwood. She shared her childhood home with her grandparents, parents, an uncle and her three sisters: Dolores (Harold Weets), Joyce (Tom Nowers) and Barbara (George Pratt).

Donna earned a two-year teaching certificate from Mount St. Clare College in 1957 and later returned to college to earn her BA in Education from Mount Mercy College in 1982. She taught 6th grade in Lowden, IA and 5th grade in Williamsburg, IA.

She married Robert Wolter on August 10, 1958. Bob and Donna lived in six different states before finally returning to Iowa in 1973 where they have lived in the same house in Marion for the past 51 years.

Donna was an avid reader and collector of books! She enjoyed gardening and camping with her family. She loved to visit Medicine Bow Peak in Wyoming where she camped and hiked. She also loved walking on the beach and gathering seashells on Anna Maria Island in Florida. She and Bob also took many travel adventures around the world.

Her biggest passion, though, was teaching children and spending time with little ones. She and Bob were very happy to have their three children within a span of three and a half years. As a teacher, church volunteer, parent and grandparent, she loved to interact with and talk to children of all ages. A favorite expression of hers was, “Grandmas are just antique little girls.”

Donna is survived by her husband of 66 years, Robert and their three children: Brenda (Tim) Albers, Bradley (Margi) Wolter and Brent (Laura) Wolter. Her twelve grandchildren are Cecelia (Mark), Brianna (Mitchell), Zoe (Will), Melissa (Ryan), Alex, Elijah, Charlotte, Nico, Dylan, Angela, Ronan and Nadia. At the time of her passing, she had three great-grandchildren: Peter, Annika, and Cornelia.

After a cancer diagnosis in August 2024, Donna passed away peacefully in hospice care. Her husband Bob and his family would especially like to thank the many friends from the community and Lutheran Church of the Resurrection for their generosity, prayers and support throughout this difficult journey. A special thanks to the wonderful support staff and nurses of Mercy Hospice and the Oldorf Hospice House. Their compassion and care for Donna in her final days is something the family will forever cherish.

Donna’s family will hold a private celebration of life ceremony at a date to be determined.

Published in The Gazette on October 20, 2024.