Donna Lee Johnson Baum

1939 - 2020

Donna Lee (Cantwell) Johnson Baum passed away at Bridgepointe Health Campus on March 19, 2020. She was born November 16, 1939 in Knox County to Donald Lincoln Cantwell and Erma Grace Enley. She grew up in Verne and graduated from Monroe City High School in 1957. After high school, she moved to Indianapolis and graduated from the International Beauty School in 1958 and Patricia Stevens Modeling School in 1959. She married Ben Johnson in 1959 (Chair of PE Dept. and track/cross country coach at Vincennes University). She was married to Jerry Baum (regional and international mission watercolor artist) in 1991. Donna is survived by her husband, Jerry Baum, two children, Jerry Johnson of New York City, NY, and Sherry Johnson Smith (Mike) of Vincennes, two grandchildren: Jasper Smith and Lincoln Smith of Chicago, IL, and three stepdaughters: Catherine Newlin, Jennifer Gieselman, and Julia Bauer. Brother in-law William Johnson of New York City and sister-in-law Sandra Lunney of Hershey, PA. also survive.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her ex-husband Ben Johnson, her brother, Dr. Edgar R. Cantwell and his wife Betty (Phipps) Cantwell, her sister Z. Jean Cantwell, her nephew Mark Cantwell and niece Crystal Cantwell.

After being a homemaker and stay-at-home mother when her kids were young, she later worked as receptionist for Dr. Hippensteel, Stewart and Combs, manager of Kings Food Host in Vincennes and Hilton Hotel in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida. She served as Catering Manager and General Manager for Bob Green Executive Inns in Vincennes, Evansville, Paducah and Owensboro in the 1980s-90s. While married to Jerry Baum, she has lived in Monterey, CA, Santa Claus, IN and Vincennes.

Donna's memberships include Indiana Presbyterian Church, lifelong member of Pals of Yesterday, Vincennes DAR and Grouseland Foundation. She founded the local chapter of Sweet Adelines (ladies' barbershop vocal group) in the 1970's under the direction of Bessie Hatton, and while married to Ben Johnson she was active in the local Jaycees and VU Faculty Wives club. She was designated as an honorary Kentucky Colonel by former Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins. She was an adept organizer and spearheaded many events. She loved to play Bridge and started the first social Mah Jongg group in Vincennes. Donna had a love for the community and a passion for promoting historic Vincennes. She was instrumental in planning, fundraising, and supervising the design and installation of the "Tecumseh" tree monument on the Vincennes Riverwalk (sculpted by artist William Toth) and was awarded a certificate for "Chief Tecumseh Day" by the Mayor of Vincennes in 2009.

Donna was also proud of her Lincoln Family heritage. There are no direct descendants of President Abraham Lincoln - only cousins remain. Donna is a first cousin (four generations removed) to the President through her paternal grandmother, Sophia Lincoln Cantwell. Donna enjoyed planning and hosting the annual Lincoln Family Reunions held at the Verne Store, and sharing family history.

Due to the current pandemic, a memorial service for her will be announced at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Knox County Community Foundation's "Cantwell Family Fund." Checks may be made to the Foundation and mailed to 20 N. 3rd St, Vincennes, IN 47591. Please include her name or "Cantwell Family Fund" on your check.