Donna Svenson

Friday, September 18, 2015 1:11 pm

Donna Svenson, 74, of Decorah died peacefully Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015, at her home in Decorah, surrounded by family, after a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, at First Lutheran Church in Decorah, with Rev. Chad Huebner and Rev. Melissa Bills officiating. Burial is in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah. Visitation was from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, and Tuesday beginning at 10 a.m., one hour before the service, at First Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be WMC Hospice, 901 Montgomery Street, Decorah, IA 52101 or Winneshiek Medical Center Auxiliary, 901 Montgomery Street, Decorah, IA 52101. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com. Organist was Marcia Engebretson. Casket bearers were Andrew O’Neill, Justin Svenson, Trevor O’Neill,

Joshua Svenson, Matthew Svenson and Darin Svenson. Congregational hymns were “Amazing Grace” and “Lift High the Cross.” Soloist wasPaul Casterton (“How Great Thou Art” and “The Lord’s Prayer.”

Donna Rae Idella (Barth) Svenson was born Nov. 14, 1940, the daughter of Edgar and Margaret (Lien) Barth, in Decorah. She attended the Dibb Country School in Decorah Township and graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1959. Donna was united in marriage to David W. Svenson Sept. 12, 1959, at First Lutheran Church in Decorah. To this union two children were born: Yvonne and Scott.  Donna worked at Northwestern Bell Telephone as a telephone operator for 17 years. She worked at Happy Joes, Walmart and at Decorah Community Schools in food service for five years. She volunteered with the Winneshiek Medical Center Auxiliary and also served as a board member. She enjoyed spending time at the cabin in Lansing and time on the river. She liked to play cards and she always liked a game of chance. She always enjoyed spending time with family and friends and cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Donna is survived by her husband, David; her daughter, Yvonne (John) O’Neill of North Liberty, and son, Scott (Martha) Svenson of Hiawatha; her grandchildren: Andrew (Lizzie) O’Neill of Iowa City, Trevor O’Neill of Iowa City, Justin Svenson of Cedar Rapids and Joshua Svenson of Iowa City; her brothers- and sisters-in-law: Carl (Vikki) Svenson, DiAnn Svenson and Richard (Linda) Svenson, all of Decorah; and by numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edgar and Margaret Barth; her brother-in-law, Gary Svenson; her sister-in-law, Sally Svenson; and her father- and mother-in-law, Sverre and Marie Svenson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to WMC Hospice, 901 Montgomery Street, Decorah, IA 52101 or Winneshiek Medical Center Auxiliary, 901 Montgomery Street, Decorah, IA 52101.