Tupy, Donna Kay

Donna Kay Tupy, 70, of Hutto, Texas, formerly of Cedar Rapids, died at home Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010. Services: 11 a.m. Friday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. David Grandon. Interment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

Donna is survived by her sons, Kevin Hadacek of Hutto, Texas, and Lawrence (Shawn) Tupy Jr. of Austin, Texas; daughter, Scherry (Mark) Serrato of Fresno, Calif.; grandsons, Joshua Tupy, Jacob Burkey and Seth Tupy; and granddaughter, Miriya Serrato.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence; son, Paul; and first husband, Joseph C. Hadacek Jr.

Donna was born July 13, 1940, in Marion, Iowa, to Charles W. and Harmie (Daws) Schmatt Jr. She married Joseph Hadacek Jr. in 1958. They were later divorced. She married Lawrence Michael Tupy Sr. in 1963. He died in 1997.

The family is most proud of Donna for raising four children and for returning to the work force at age 50 and learning the complicated job of putting operating room instruments together for surgery. She excelled at total joint trays. Donna possessed strength that she taught her children and helped the family cope when their grandmother, Harmie Schmatt, was murdered and when her son, Paul, committed suicide.

Her last two years of life was spent in Hutto, Texas, where she turned in her Iowa license and became a Texan! She loved to eat at the “the Texan cafe,” a little place with great food. She had never seen the ocean, and in April 2010, she got to spend four beautiful days at the beach in South Padre. Even though she was becoming more ill by July, she wanted to attend the Walter Cronkite exhibit at the LBJ presidential library. Donna's breathing became progressively worse and she fought with all her will. She was extraordinary, surviving a heart attack, bilateral pulmonary embolisms, two GI bleeds and multiple admissions for COPD exacerbation. During all her visits she charmed the nurses in her own way! Everyone loved her; especially her sense of humor. Donna's motto was “I did it my way.” She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Memorials may be directed to American Lung Association or to the Seton Williamson Medical Center Foundation in Round Rock, Texas, in Donna's name.