Donna Jean "Ringwall" Holmes

Donna Jean Holmes, 82, of Bessemer, passed away on Friday, March 20, 2026.

Donna was born on October 10, 1943, in Winfied, Kansas, to Birger E. and Olga (Heikkila) Ringwall, shortly before her family relocated to Ironwood. She graduated as valedictorian of the Luther L. Wright High School Class of 1961 and went on to earn her bachelor's degree in mathematics education summa cum laude from Northern Michigan University in 1965. She earned a prestigious fellowship from the National Science Foundation to complete her master's degree in mathematics education from Harvard University in 1966, before starting her teaching career at Grand Blanc Community High School and then as a professor in the mathematics department at Northern Michigan University.

On New Year's Eve in 1968, Donna was united in marriage to Miles Wyman Holmes Jr. in Ironwood. While supporting her husband's long career as an Army officer, which included several assignments in the U.S. and one in Germany, she continued her career teaching math at the middle school, high school, and college levels, including nine years as a lecturer in the mathematics department at Eastern Michigan University. She was an excellent teacher, beloved by many of her students. Donna had a lifelong love of downhill skiing, teaching lessons for many years at Indianhead Mountain Resort in retirement, and continuing to ski into her 80th year. She was also active in tennis into her 60s. Donna was an avid reader and a prolific knitter. She was a talented seamstress from her teenage years on, creating formal dresses and clothing for her family. Donna was a devoted mother and grandmother.

We will always remember her thoughtfulness, her overwhelming generosity, her outgoing personality, and her trivia skills. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

Donna is survived by her two children, Christopher Holmes of Chicago, Illinois, and Alison (Curtis) Fisher of Salem, Oregon; her brother, David (Angela) Ringwall of San Antonio, Texas; her sister, Susan (Jim Pieterick) Ringwall of Rochester, Minnesota; her two grandchildren, Myles Fisher and Maisy Fisher of Salem, Oregon; as well as other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Miles.

A celebration of Donna's life is planned for the afternoon of July 4 at Donna's home in Bessemer.