Donna Lou Ihde

Donna Lou Ihde, 93, of Oak Harbor, passed away October 19, 2025 at her home in Oak Harbor, Ohio. Donna was born on March 21, 1932, in Oak Harbor, Ohio to the late Emery and Luella (Hehl) Mehlow. Donna met Jack Ihde, fell in love and was married in 1953. She graduated from Bowling Green University with a bachelor's degree in education in 1972 and taught first grade at RC Waters Elementary School for 27 years and then substitute taught several more years.
Donna was a member of St Paul United Church of Christ (UCC) in Oak Harbor, where she was a past member of the choir and spent decades as a lay reader. She enjoyed going out to breakfast and to monthly birthday parties with her "group of ladies." Donna and Jack traveled extensively, and she was proud she made a visit to all 50 states. Her favorite state was Ohio because of all the memories made there.
Donna is survived by her sons, Greg and Sally (Mills), Mark and Brenda (Kontak), and daughter Kathy and Scott Buente; grandchildren Nick (Emily), Jacob (Sabrina), Keri (Daniel) Goodwin, Lauren (Matt) Hill, Alexie (Wally) Swenson, and Jack (Ashley) Moutoux, Kevin & Kyle Buente; great grandchildren: Madeline, Charlotte, Dolores, Eliott, Luella, Olive, Weston, Everley, Emmery, Mila, Isla, Loretta, Harley, Griffon, Ella, Brooks, & Bentley. She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Jack Ihde.
Friends and family are invited to visit at Crosser and Priesman Funeral Home, Oak Harbor, on Thursday, October 23, 2025 from 4 – 7pm. Funeral Services for Donna will begin at 11am on Friday, October 24, 2025 at St Paul United Church of Christ, 165 N. Toussaint St. Oak Harbor, OH, 43449. Burial will follow in Salem Township Union Cemetery, Oak Harbor. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Donna may be directed to the Oak Harbor Public Library or St Paul United Church of Christ, Oak Harbor. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.crosserpriesman.com. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donna, please visit our floral store.