Donna K. Ward

1928 - 2025

Donna K. Ward, 97, of Rockford, passed away on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Born March 31, 1928, in Jacksonville, IL, the daughter of T. Paul and Ruth (Ottwell) Knox. Donna was raised in Jacksonville and graduated from JHS in 1946. She went on to attend Hardin Brown Business College where she graduated and pursued secretarial and administrative positions. Donna married A. William "Bill" Ward on November 25, 1951 in Jacksonville. She is survived by her children, Thomas (Elizabeth) Ward of Woodridge, IL, Jon Ward of Chicago, IL and Kim (Wayne) Huebner of Rockford; four grandchildren, Jeff Ward of Phoenix, AZ, Jennifer Ward of Plainfield, IL, Becca (Erik) Johnson of Rockford, and Abby (Mike) Honson of S. Beloit; three great-grandchildren, Alice, Maggie, and Natalie Carlson; and niece, Jeanne (David) Hamby of Wartburg, TN. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brother, Edward Knox. A special thank you goes out to Alpine Fireside Health Center and Northern Illinois Hospice for their caring love and support.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at First Free, 2223 N. Mulford Rd., Rockford. A private burial will be held at a later date in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, IL. If desired, memorials would be appreciated to Alpine Fireside Health Center or Northern Illinois Hospice. To share a memory or condolence, please visit www.olsonfh.com.