Donna Marie Mitchell

DONNA MARIE MITCHELL

Manchester

Donna Marie (Willwerth) Mitchell, beloved wife, sister, mother and good friend, died peacefully at Prairie Hills Assisted Living, Independence, Iowa, on June 17, 2021, at the age of 63.

Donna was born June 27, 1957, to Donald and Catherine (Damisch) Willwerth in Waterloo, Iowa.

She graduated from Wapsie Valley High School in 1975. She continued her education at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, becoming a nurses aide, continuing on to LPN, then a registered nurse and ultimately receiving her bachelor of science degree in Health Arts at St. Francis College, Chicago, Ill.

Donna married Earl Mitchell of New Albin, Iowa, in 2002.

Donna enjoyed traveling, camping and working with Earl helping others in Spiritual Direction. She taught nurses aide courses at Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, worked as a nurse in home health and nursing homes, and authored various articles and books.

Those left to cherish memories of her in their hearts are her husband, Earl Mitchell; daughter, Jennifer Charlene Ryan (fiance Levi Shaw), grandson, Tyler Douglas Ryan; and siblings, Becky (Jim) Hogan, Andy (Cris) Willwerth, Tom (Deb) Willwerth, Evelyn Willwerth, Helen (Jay) Proffitt and Patty (Ken) Collins. Earl's siblings, Lawrence, Raymond, David and Esther Benish; Earl's children, Cindy (Mike) Lacey, Mark, Matt, Mike (Mary); and six stepgrandchildren.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents; nieces, Angela Hogan and Laura Cathleen (Hogan) Simois; nephew-in-law, Patrick Jurgensen; grandaughter, Jessica Ryan-Shaw; Earl's siblings, Kenny, William, Peter, Jimmy and Gerry; sisters-in-law, Lucile and Barb Mitchell, Teresa Kubitz and Mary Jo Colsch; and good friends, Amy Monrow and Nancy McQuaid.

Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. June 28, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Manchester, Iowa, with celebration of life following at 3 p.m. A private burial will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.