Donna Lou Clagett

Donna Lou Clagett

Anamosa

Donna Lou Clagett, 77, died Monday, November 25, 2024 at Pinicon Place, Anamosa. Her body was ready but our hearts were not.

Friends may call from 4pm until 7pm on Wednesday, December 4th at the Goettsch Funeral Home, Anamosa. Funeral services will be held 11:00am Thursday morning, December 5, 2024. Interment will be in Hazel Knoll Cemetery at a later date. Thoughts, Memories and Condolences may be left at www. goettschonline.com

Mother, sister (or “Seester”), wife, Aunt, daughter, grandmother, great grandmother, mother-in-law, nurse, friend, mentor, inspiration. Many, including her family, called her Donna Lou. To many others, she was Grandma Lou. She loved, taught, disciplined and inspired many. Donna Lou enjoyed her time spent laughing with those she loved.

All of those whose life she touched throughout her journey here on earth will miss her greatly. Surviving is her husband Pete, 2 sons, Matt (April) Kenney, Brian (Marci) Kenney, 2 step-children Sarah (Walt) Johnson, John Clagett, 11 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and one on the way, her siblings, David Seeley, Gail (Bernie deLeseleuc) Seeley, Rose Anne (David) Steninger and a sister-in-law, Donna Seeley. She was preceded in death by her parents and 2 brothers, Clarke and Darrell.

Donna Lou Seeley was born March 23, 1947, at Anamosa, Iowa, the daughter of Max Ellsworth and Catherine Finn, Seeley. She attended the Anamosa Community Schools. Donna married Carroll Kenney in 1964 at the Fairview Baptist Church. The couple divorced in 1972. Donna continued her education at Highland Community College in Freeport, Ill., where she obtained her degree in Nursing. She worked as a nurse at Finley Hospital and Windsor Manor in Dubuque, St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, was the owner and Director of Nursing at the Villas of Shannon, Shannon Ill.

Donna was a wilderness nurse when she lived in Canada and in retirement, she covered the weekend shift at Camp Courageous. Donna married Thomas Peter Clagett on December 17, 1994, at the United Congregational Church in Anamosa. The couple operated a fishing camp in Perrault Falls, Ontario, Canada in the summer months. They would travel in the winter months, and had been in all 50 states and all of the Canadian Provinces as well as Austria, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. Donna Lou lived a full and wonderful life even after being diagnosed with M.S. in 1994. Her strength and bravery are something to be admired. On a quiet day, you could find Donna Lou feeding and watching birds on her deck, caring for her beautiful plants or baking. She had also spent time teaching yoga and swimming.

Donna Lou’s advice is “learn to manage your time and follow your dreams. Don’t be afraid to try whatever you think you want to be or do. Because if you try, you can do anything. There isn’t anything you can’t do if you set your mind to it.” If she wasn’t the one learning then she was teaching someone else or sharing her great wisdom upon others. If you needed a listening ear, Donna Lou was always there.

The family would like to thank special friends Pat Hesket and Leslie Sommerville and the Thirsty Thursday Crew for always being true and loyal friends.