Donna Knutson

DONNA KNUTSON

Cedar Rapids

Donna Knutson, 89, of Cedar Rapids, passed away after a brief illness on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, in Hospice of Mercy care at Meth-Wick's Woodlands facility. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at Lovely Lane Methodist Church, 2424 42nd St. NE, with the Rev. Paul Wilcox presiding.

Born Dec. 31, 1925, in Wichita, Kan., Donna was the daughter of the Rev. Virgil and Hazel Grant. She grew up and attended schools in eastern Iowa where her father served Methodist churches. After high school, Donna enrolled at Cornell College where she earned a bachelor's in sociology. She later received a master's degree in education at Northern Colorado University in Greeley.

Donna Grant started teaching school in Newell, Iowa, and met Harold Schreiber, a colleague who was to become her husband in 1956. They moved to Cedar Rapids in 1958 for Harold's position as a math teacher in the school system, finishing at Kennedy High School until his death in 1975 after an extended illness. Meanwhile, Donna, after working at Iowa Electric Light and Power, renewed her certification and returned to teaching at Harding Junior High in 1968.

She married the widowed Dr. Howard Knutson in 1977 and moved to Cedar Falls, until Howard's retirement from UNI in 1981. For the next 23 years, Donna and Howard lived in their beloved Arkansas, mostly in Cherokee Village, and briefly in Little Rock, before moving back to Cedar Rapids to be near family in 2004. Until Howard's death in 2006, they had enjoyed traveling together during retirement to such places as Australia, France, and Norway, some involving Earthwatch research projects.

As a member of Lovely Lane Methodist Church, Donna applied herself to many beneficial activities. She volunteered in hospital auxiliary, Hospice of Mercy and Meals On Wheels. Donna's ready smile, easy laugh and caring disposition endeared her to her extensive family and forged many friendships wherever she went and in PEO. She was known by most of the Meth-Wick community for her upbeat demeanor and getting involved in helpful pursuits, such as being a "Redcap" that gave residents rides around the campus when needed. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Donna was honored to accept a Lifetime Volunteer Award by the American Lung Association of Arkansas. She also chaired the committee of 100 which supported the Ozark Folk Center and was instrumental in developing its herb program.

She is survived by Howard's children, Kristin (Tom Fiuty) of Lake Geneva, Wis., Karl Knutson (Patti) of Cedar Rapids and Kathie (Kevin Hovick) of Clive; grandchildren, Kristi (Sean O'Neill) of Willmette, Ill., Peter Knutson (Yasmin) of Dubuque, Ilia Fiuty of Lake Geneva, Wis., Mary Hovick of Des Moines and Michael Hovick of New York; and six great-grandchildren, Aidan, Declan, Ronan, Conor, Noah and Magdalena.

Donna had a close and special relationship with great-nephew and wife, Fran and Cheryl Moe of Cedar Rapids. She is also survived by nieces, Carolyn (Mike Gminski) of St. Charles, Ill., and Elaine Watson of Hewitt, N.J.; cousins, Stanley and Bob Grant; and a wonderful family of nephews and nieces from both the Schreiber and Knutson families.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents; sister; Dorothy; two husbands; and niece, Donna Bell.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hospice of Mercy of Cedar Rapids, the Meth-Wick Foundation or Lovely Lane United Methodist Church. After the service, a reception will be held at Lovely Lane to remember Donna's full and generous life.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.