Donna Lee Cowan

Donna Lee (Rasch) Cowan, age 88, of Freedom, Indiana passed away peacefully on February 18, 2025 at the Owen Valley Rehab & Health Facility in Spencer, Indiana. She was born in Burlington, Wisconsin on March 16, 1936 to Walter and Ruth (Pacey) Rasch. Donna dedicated her professional life to academia. She holds a Ph.D., M.S. and B.S. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She retired as the Academic Dean of the College of Consumer and Family Sciences at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Donna was instrumental in coordinating community colleges in Iowa to offer classes that would directly transfer credit to Iowa State University, she also launched the first Iowa State University full-immersion group study program abroad in Africa. Donna was an active member of the Rotary International and worked on their international water projects to bring safe drinking water to underserved nations in Africa. During her tenure she was afforded the opportunity to travel extensively abroad to many countries. Donna received many accolades for her meaningful work including Outstanding Woman, from the Ames Iowa Chamber of Commerce, and a Honorary Doctorate of Law Degree from the Ahfad University for Women in Africa. In her free time, Donna enjoyed feeding the birds, gardening, and driving her 1957 Austin Healey convertible.
Donna is survived by her daughter, Leanne (Edward) Barnett; step-children, Susan (Mitch) Lawrence, Nancy (Tim) Hamlin, Margaret Burchinal, Janice O'Boyle, Esther Burchinal, Sandra Grotberg, Karen Weinberg, and James Grotberg; grandchildren, Graham (Sasha) Barnett, Cameron Barnett, Nicole (Richard) Thorton, Brandon (Jackie) Williams, Maddie Hamlin, and Tristan Hamlin; siblings Jean (Alan) Scott, and Larry (Sue) Rasch, and many other grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and husbands, Don Newbrough and Lee Burchinal.
Graveside services are being planned for later this summer in Ames, Iowa.
Donations may be made to The Exotic Feline Rescue Center, 2221 E. Ashboro Rd., Center Point, IN 47408 or to Mill Creek Hunt, 420 S. Byerly Rd. Freedom, IN 47431.
West & Parrish & Pedigo Funeral Home in Spencer, Indiana have been entrusted with the arrangements.
Online condolences may be made to the family at westparrishpedigo.com