Donna Strudwick

In so many ways, Donna Strudwick impacted the lives of those around her whether those in her church, the students she taught over the years, or the family she treasured. She worked hard, even helping build the family home, and no matter what she was doing, she gave it her all. Donna traveled the world experiencing countless adventures along the way, yet her heart always remained connected to her family as the miles separated them. She nurtured an enduring faith throughout her life, which gave her the strength to find joy in the midst of a storm. The twenties were a vibrant decade in American history rich with diverse options within the culture of our nation with things such as jazz music, dance marathons, Broadway hits, and books by great authors such as Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. It was in the year 1923 that Henry and Leola (Thomas) Throne welcomed their daughter, Donnabelle Louise, into their hearts and home on January 29th. Donna was born in Battle Creek, Iowa, as the oldest of eight children in her family, which grew to include siblings Richard, Ernest, Norman, Nolan, Eugene, Judith, and Barbara. Donnas father was a farmer while her mother was a farmers wife. Many times, farming is a lifestyle and in the Throne family, this was certainly the case as the children were responsible for a fair amount of the chores. On their farm, they grew various crops and also raised cattle, pigs, and chickens. Farm life was hard work, but it could be fun, too, and even dangerous at times. Their family was dealt a devastating blow with the death of Donnas younger brother when he accidentally drowned in a rain barrel. Donna attended a one-room schoolhouse through the eighth grade, walking to and from school each day. During high school, Donna rode her pony Billy to high school everyday where she was in the choir and played the French horn in the band. Donna was an excellent student who earned a scholarship to Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Although her education played an important role in the years to come, her days as a college student were significant for a far greater reason. Donna had been dating a young man named Larry, but when she met Larrys friend Bill one day, fate intervened. The attraction between Donna and Bill was immediate, and they soon found themselves hopelessly in love. They married on May 14, 1944, in her hometown of Battle Creek. While Bill fulfilled his time in the service, the couple lived in Denver where they welcomed their son, William Courtney, in 1946. Once Bill was discharged, he went to California to find work while Donna returned to Iowa to stay with her family. Shortly after their son Richard was born, they decided that California was not a good fit for their family, and they moved to Bills hometown of Muskegon, Michigan. After living several places, they finally settled into a house on Beidler Street, and Bill found steady work at Steel Fabricating. After six years on Beidler, they purchased a lot on Estes Street in the Lakeside neighborhood. They built their family home, and Donna even rolled up her sleeves and helped with the building a bit. In addition to caring for her family, Donna worked as well. She sold Stanley Home Products in order to earn a little extra money while she applied to become a substitute teacher. Donna ended up getting hired full-time and after working for several different school districts, she settled at Lincoln Park Elementary School. She taught kindergarten there for more than 30 years and was truly a wonderful teacher. Donna was ahead of her time in teaching methods and during these years, she continued her education at Western Michigan University on weekends and during the summer. She earned both her bachelors degree and her masters degree. Donna had a way with both students and their parents since parents frequently requested that their children be put in her class. The Strudwick family enjoyed spending time together, often sailing on their boat, Cygnet. They kept their boat in Muskegon and were members of the Muskegon Yacht Club. As a family they attended Central United Methodist Church where both Donna and Bill were very active, serving on boards and committees. Donna was also on the PEO and helped out in the kitchen on a regular basis. There were many things that interested Donna over the years. She loved to garden and was one of the founders of the West Michigan Herb Society. Donna had an herb garden in her backyard and also transformed part of her basement into a production center for herb gift packages that they sold at events. She knew most everything there was to know about herbs, too, because she studied and took classes to become a Master Gardener. Donna was a wonderful cook of gourmet meals, and she was a fantastic baker as well. Later in life, Donna and Bill retired when they were 60 and together, they set off to see the world. They initially put many miles on a Volkswagen camper, but they later moved on to a bigger RV and made it to all of the lower 48 states. They also traveled extensively throughout Europe, especially England, and China, too. Donna always researched their destinations before they left so that they would know just where to go, what to see, and where to eat. They continued to be a close family and spent a lot of time with their children and grandchildren. Donna also remained close with her family and they attended the weddings of almost all of their nieces and nephews. Donna was deeply saddened with the death of her beloved Bill this past December after 65 years of marriage, just a short time after losing her mother. In so many ways, Donna Strudwick was a gift to those around her. She delighted in many things in life, yet nothing brought her greater joy than gathering with her family. Donna was compassionate and empathetic, qualities that made her such a great teacher who touched the hearts of young children for over 30 years. She leaves behind countless memories to be forever treasured by those who will miss her dearly. Donna L/ Strudwick died on March 18, 2010. Donnas family includes her sons, Richard Strudwick of Muskegon, W. Courtney (Diana) Strudwick of OH; grandsons, Andrew (Deana) Strudwick, John Strudwick; great-grandsons, Connor and Andrew; brothers, Eugene (Linda) Throne of MO, Nolan (Sandra) Throne of Muskegon; sisters, Barb (Roger) Welte of SC, Judy (Marlin) Pellersel of IA. Donna was preceded in death by her mother, her husband, as well as brothers Earnest and Richard. A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 22, 2010, 1:00 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church with Pastor Gary Bekofske officiating. Interment at Central United Methodist Church Columbarium. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory or make a memorial contribution to Central United Methodist Church.