Donna Jean Bloemker

Donna Jean Bloemker passed away on September 26, 2025 at the Washington, PA Presbyterian Senior Care Center, where she resided for the past 4 years. She was born on September 10, 1933 to Willis Walla and Leona Ruzicka Walla and was raised on a farm near North Bend, NE, where she attended high school. During her teenage years, she earned spending money at the local drug store working as a soda jerk. After graduating from high school in 1950, Donna earned a living working as a bookkeeper in Fremont, NE. In 1954 she married Vernon Lyle Bloemker and they soon had four children to raise.

After moving to Pennsylvania in 1962, Donna earned her BA in Psychology, graduating in 1969 from California State Teachers College, where her husband taught American Literature.

Donna used the sewing skills she learned at the local North Bend area 4-H club to keep herself and her growing family economically and fashionably clothed. Over time, Donna became quite skilled at sewing, and her talent became so adept that she opened her own store called "Sew In Style" in California, PA. At "Sew In Style", Donna sold fabric and sewing machines, and she taught sewing classes. Her skills as a talented seamstress were so well respected that she became a consultant for Pfaff American Sales and for Nancy Zieman of "Sewing with Nancy."

In addition to her sewing career, Donna's life involved taking her children to school and attending church activities at Saint Paul's Lutheran Church of Washington, where the family were long time members.

Donna's passing was preceeded by the deaths of her parents Willis and Leona Walla; father-in-law and mother-in-law John and Esther Bloemker; husband Vernon; sister Mary Heese; daughter Janelle Stevenson; daughter-in-law Sandy; brothers-in-law Russell and Lowell and their wives Le and Janet.

Donna is survived by her children James Dean Bloemker, Jonathan Charles Bloemker, and Jay Jeffrey Bloemker, Jeff's wife Tammy and their children, John and Joyce; her sister Charlene Greene, her husband Charles, and their children; brother-in-law Norman Heese and his children; the children of Russ and Le, the children of Lowell and Janet; and son-in-law John Stevenson.

A memorial service will be held in the Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Home, 420 Locust Ave., Washington, PA on Saturday, October 11, 2025. Visitation will be from 10 AM to 11 AM. Service will be at 11 AM with Pastor Robert Grewe officiating. Interment will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, CO at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make memorial contributions to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, St. Joseph's Indian School, Shriner's Hospitals for Children, or an animal rescue facility of your choice. Online condolences may be expressed at www.piattandbarnhillfh.com. Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Directors, Inc., Charles R. Piatt, owner/supervisor, Andrew C. Piatt, director.