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Karen Donahue Obituary
Karen graduated from Sand Creek High School in 1958 and earned a business degree from Stenzburger Business College in Toledo, Ohio. She dedicated 50 years of service to the University of Michigan, where she especially cherished her time at the Institute for Social Research.
Karen was fiercely independent and lived life to the fullest. She attended countless plays and concerts on her trusty red scooter and delighted in playing-and often winning-pinochle and Trivial Pursuit with family and friends. Above all, Karen treasured the time she spent with her family. Her pride in their accomplishments and the joy she found in their company brought magic to her later years.
Karen is survived by her brother, Tom Pickford of Jasper, Michigan; her daughter, Kat Donahue (Jody Lamkin) of Milan, Michigan; her grandson, Earl Easley Donahue (Sara Easley), and great-grandchildren Pearl and Parker of Garden City; her son-in-law, Earl Easley Sr. (Nancy Easley); and her dear friend and former husband, Bernard Donahue of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Nancy C. Easley; her parents, Pearl Pickford and Cornelius Van Zweden; and two brothers, Craig and Neil Van Zweden.
A memorial service will be held on January 29, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Ann Arbor. Following the service, attendees are invited to Karen's home to share memories and refreshments.
Karen's memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
John Haeussler
January 28, 2025
Kat - Sending you love and hugs. Karen was a treasure!
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Nancy Lutz Scott
January 21, 2025
Karen has been such an integral part of the Lutz family for decades. She mentored, befriended, guided and shared times of joy and sorrow with us 40 some years or more. I met Karen through my sister Mary and Karen helped me find employment with ISR as a work study student at U of M. Years later she even taught our daughter Emily about how to make a budget.
The photo here was taken in 2006 outside the First United Methodist church where Karen served as an usher in her red scooter. She is with our daughters Corinna and Emily and my mother, Marion Lutz and family friend Sharon.
I will miss Karen´s radiant smile, her full embrace of life and her open heart and loving presence.
We give our heartfelt condolences to Kat and Jody and Karen´s grandson Eric and his family and Earl Sr. We honor the steadfast love and ongoing support, especially Kat and Jody, provided Karen to make her life comfortable and comforted, right to the end.
Karen´s life left a lasting impact on so many and our family was blessed to be graced by her kindness and her joyful spirit and that beautiful smile.
With love,
Nancy (Lutz) and Dennis Scott, Emily and Corinna
Mary and Al Olmsted
January 18, 2025
I met Karen when I was 21 and working at the Del Rio. She would come in on Sunday afternoons to listen to live jazz. I knew she worked for Ernie Harburg and was at the University. But we had never spoke.
I was having a really bad Sunday and on my way to the kitchen, she asked me if I was O.k. I said no, burst into tears, then sat down to confide in her. We were best friends from that moment on. Over the years, she and and I went through some difficult times in our lives. But we did together. And that made all the difference in the world.
I will never forget the phone call I got one evening when her daughter Nancy was dying. I flew to Ann Arbor to be with her. I remember standing in front of her clothes closet as she looked for a dress to wear to Nancy's funeral. She was dismayed to see herself doing such a thing. We both burst into tears, followed by laughter when she thought about some comment Nancy would make at the bright colors she was picking out.
I remember the time I had blown up my marriage and had sunk into despair. Karen was the only person I could be around. She told me I needed to rest--for a long time. I stayed with her in her room. We watched soaps together and laughed and cried like crazy women. She loved me through it all.
I was one of so many people who came to Karen for unconditional love and encouragement. She would gently listen and never judge. She had that ability to see the sun at the end of difficult times we all go through in this life. She would shepherd many lost souls like me back into life again.
She has always been my living example of seeing the glory in life and not getting stuck in sorrow or anger. Forgiveness was her very nature. That ability to let go of past hurts and embrace joy was in her very soul. And it shown through her like a bright star, or guiding light to all those who came into her orbit.
Karen held no ill will toward anyone and that freed her to love deeply. Her family gave her immeasurable joy and strength and we would talk endlessly about how blessed we were to have such good kids and grandkids and great grandkids. Karen appreciated beyond words her daughter Kathy's lifelong abiding love and devotion which allowed Karen to live a full abundant life. Karen felt like a queen when her son-on-law Jody would make special gourmet meals for her.
I am so blessed that I could go through life together with her kind heart, delightful sense of humor and ability to bring out the best in us. I miss her dearly but I learned so much from her and I only hope that I can live up to the example she gave me of how to live life with joy and love.
Kimberly
January 14, 2025
Sending our condolence to Donahue & Easley family from the Thompson's and King family. Love and hugs to you all
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