Donna Mae Colbeck
May 26, 1933 — October 14, 2024
Donna Mae Colbeck, 91, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away Monday, October 14, 2024. A visitation will be held from 3 - 7 p.m. on Friday, October 25, 2024, at The Legacy Center at Murdoch-Linwood in Cedar Rapids. Funeral Mass will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at St. Ludmila Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Entombment will follow at the Linwood Cemetery Mausoleum in Cedar Rapids.
Donna Mae Colbeck was born in Langdon, North Dakota in 1933. She spent her childhood in Lakota, North Dakota where her parents, Cecil and Irene (Balgaard) Eykyn, were the proprietors of the Lakota Hotel. Though Donna was an only child, her early days were filled with companionship from the family dog, Kelly, and adventures on her grandmother’s farm. After graduating high school, Donna attended the College of Saint Benedict’s in Minnesota to become an educator. Donna enjoyed a short career as an elementary school teacher before moving to Washington, D.C. for an opportunity with Japan airlines. There she met her husband, Norman. The young family moved to West Virginia, Ohio, and subsequently settled in Michigan for many years.
Acting as a loving caretaker to children was a cornerstone of Donna’s life. She was a teacher assistant in the Detroit Public school system, and a busy mother to her large family: Todd, Jay (Bobbie), Nancy Snaadt (Doug), Peggy Colbeck-Rochford (Rocky), Joel, Amy Gaffney (C. Dennis), and Noreen Colbeck-Bush (Russ). As a role model for her children, Donna demonstrated compassion for all living creatures and found creative solutions to life’s challenges. Donna adopted every stray cat her children brought home, despite protest from her respiratory system. She had an uncanny ability to transform humble household items into Barbie limousines, doll fashion, and other sources of joy.
Her time in Detroit cemented her love for the Red Wings long after moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for an opportunity at Rockwell Collins. A few years later, Donna was recruited to be a medical transcriptionist for the University of Texas and moved her family to Houston. Donna loved the warm friendships and temperatures she found in Texas, but proximity to her children and grandchildren inspired her return to Cedar Rapids. She enjoyed a long career with the Iowa Medical Clinic until retiring at 72. Beyond her lightning-fast typing, the physicians and colleagues she worked closely with adored Donna’s sharp wit, dry humor, and lemon bars
Donna’s home was always filled with jazz, classic movies, and laughter. Her fondness of jelly donuts was surpassed only by her addiction to chocolate. She was a talented seamstress, and applied her gift to support her loved one’s special occasions and everyday needs. She created family bridal party dresses, school play wardrobes, Halloween costumes, household accessories, and attire for herself and loved ones. Donna’s confectionery talents added similarly to all celebrations. No holiday was complete without her peanut brittle, fudge, frosted sugar cookies, and lefse. Simple pleasures (John Stanford novels, New York times crosswords, televised pony races, and marathon episodes of Midsomer Murders) brought her great joy. Donna’s faith, positivity, and optimism were as endless as her passion for serving others. She will be dearly missed.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Noreen Bush Memorial Fund, c/o Cedar Rapids Community School District Foundation, 2500 Edgewood Road NW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52405. Donations will support students in need, ensuring all children have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities.
Donna Mae Colbeck was born in Langdon, North Dakota in 1933. She spent her childhood in Lakota, North Dakota where her parents, Cecil and Irene (Balgaard) Eykyn, were the proprietors of the Lakota Hotel. Though Donna was an only child, her early days were filled with companionship from the family dog, Kelly, and adventures on her grandmother’s farm. After graduating high school, Donna attended the College of Saint Benedict’s in Minnesota to become an educator. Donna enjoyed a short career as an elementary school teacher before moving to Washington, D.C. for an opportunity with Japan airlines. There she met her husband, Norman. The young family moved to West Virginia, Ohio, and subsequently settled in Michigan for many years.
Acting as a loving caretaker to children was a cornerstone of Donna’s life. She was a teacher assistant in the Detroit Public school system, and a busy mother to her large family: Todd, Jay (Bobbie), Nancy Snaadt (Doug), Peggy Colbeck-Rochford (Rocky), Joel, Amy Gaffney (C. Dennis), and Noreen Colbeck-Bush (Russ). As a role model for her children, Donna demonstrated compassion for all living creatures and found creative solutions to life’s challenges. Donna adopted every stray cat her children brought home, despite protest from her respiratory system. She had an uncanny ability to transform humble household items into Barbie limousines, doll fashion, and other sources of joy.
Her time in Detroit cemented her love for the Red Wings long after moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for an opportunity at Rockwell Collins. A few years later, Donna was recruited to be a medical transcriptionist for the University of Texas and moved her family to Houston. Donna loved the warm friendships and temperatures she found in Texas, but proximity to her children and grandchildren inspired her return to Cedar Rapids. She enjoyed a long career with the Iowa Medical Clinic until retiring at 72. Beyond her lightning-fast typing, the physicians and colleagues she worked closely with adored Donna’s sharp wit, dry humor, and lemon bars
Donna’s home was always filled with jazz, classic movies, and laughter. Her fondness of jelly donuts was surpassed only by her addiction to chocolate. She was a talented seamstress, and applied her gift to support her loved one’s special occasions and everyday needs. She created family bridal party dresses, school play wardrobes, Halloween costumes, household accessories, and attire for herself and loved ones. Donna’s confectionery talents added similarly to all celebrations. No holiday was complete without her peanut brittle, fudge, frosted sugar cookies, and lefse. Simple pleasures (John Stanford novels, New York times crosswords, televised pony races, and marathon episodes of Midsomer Murders) brought her great joy. Donna’s faith, positivity, and optimism were as endless as her passion for serving others. She will be dearly missed.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Noreen Bush Memorial Fund, c/o Cedar Rapids Community School District Foundation, 2500 Edgewood Road NW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52405. Donations will support students in need, ensuring all children have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities.
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