Donna Mae Colbeck

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. 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). She would later enjoy a long career as a medical transcriptionist 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. She was a talented seamstress and applied her gift to support her loved one's special occasions and everyday needs. Donna's home was always filled with jazz, chocolate, mystery novels, and laughter. 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. For a full obituary and to share a memory of Donna, please visit www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.