Donna Marie Mankowski

Donna Marie Mankowski, 80, of Gaylord went to be with the Lord, Saturday, May 18, 2024, at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. 

 

Born in Gaylord, Michigan on November 12, 1943, she was the daughter of Frank and Martha (Polus) Maslowski. Donna grew up in Gaylord, Michigan on a farm, where she later met her husband, married, and raised four daughters. 

 

On May 19, 1962, Donna married the love of her life, Thomas Mankowski. They recently celebrated 61 years of marriage. While raising her family, Donna worked as a commercial underwriter for Citizens/Hanover Insurance Company and retired in 2003.

 

Donna was dedicated to her community and St. Mary Cathedral Church.  In her spare time, she loved taking care of her flowers, reading, cooking, baking, camping with family, volunteering at bingo, giving her time to hospice, but most of all pampering her husband, daughters, son-in-law’s, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  

 

Donna’s beautiful smile brought warmth to anyone who was around. She welcomed anyone into family gatherings and made them feel like they were part of the family. She was always willing prepare a feast for all the large family gatherings and never complained. 

 

Donna is survived by Thomas, her husband, of 61 years; daughters, Tammie (Doug) Hughes, Jackie (Bill) McShosh, Cindy (Rusty) Huff and Kelly (Mike) Ford; grandchildren, Ryan (Karen) Hughes, Jena (Adam) Daning, Miranda (Jeff) James, Lucas (Kellie) McShosh, Kaitlin (Adam) Kroll, Blake (Leah) Huff, Madeline McShosh, Hannah (Nick) Leech, Brandon (Madison) Huff, Jacob Ford and Ty Ford; great-grandchildren, Ava, Keegan, Charlotte, Jamie, Harper, Kaden, Carson, Shay, Bryce, Miles and Posie; sisters, Marlene Zylstra, Margaret Prusakiewicz; brother, Frank Maslowski; sisters-in-law, Sherry Maslowski, Louise Storey, Rose Wells, Wynonia Mankowski; brother-in-law, Richard Prusakiewicz.  

 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Martha Maslowski; in-laws, Frank and Agnes Mankowski; sisters-in-law, Thelma Mankowski, June Mankowski, Dory Mankowski; and brothers-in-law, Theodore Mankowski, Robert, Mankowski, Bo Mankowski, Gerald Mankowski, Richard Storey, Edward Zylstra and Richard Wells. 

 

Donna will always be loved from heaven above, and the family will continue to share their memories, and carry on her traditions. The family will forever miss their wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, also known as Sparky. 

 

Until we meet again.

 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 noon, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the St. Mary Cathedral where visitation with the family will begin at 11:00 AM. Donna will be interred at Resurrection Cemetery. 
 
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family which will go to specific organizations once the family decides. Please send to Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service, In C/O: Cindy Huff, P.O. Box 249, Gaylord MI 49734.

 

Please share your memories and personal messages with the family on her guestbook below.