Donna Lea Strother

Donna Lea (Heiken) Strother of rural Mount Vernon passed away, surrounded by family, on Sept. 21, 2023, at the Rehabilitation Center of Lisbon. Funeral services will be held at Linn Grove Presbyterian Church, rural Mount Vernon, at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24, followed by a celebration of Donna's life until 5:30 p.m. at the church. Goettsch Funeral Home has taken Donna and her family into their care. Thoughts, Memories and Condolences may be left at www.Goettschonline.com. Donna Lea was born on Oct. 18, 1928, to John Henry and Muriel (Taylor) Heiken. She was the second oldest of four children. She attended a rural country school at Scotch Grove, Iowa, and graduated from Monticello High School in 1947. During her high school years, she lived in Monticello with her grandmother, Mary Heiken, who played a major role in molding her into the woman she became. Immediately, after high school, she was able to become a teacher, which had been her dream. Her first job was at Rocky Ridge, a country school north of Scotch Grove. After two years, she attended Iowa State Teachers' College in Cedar Falls. Following that, she taught at Martelle, Rocky Ridge again, and Lisbon. Donna established close relationships with many of her students that she maintained throughout life. During her stint at Martelle, she met a young farmer/school bus driver named Dick Strother. Their first date happened as a result of Donna scolding Dick for teaching students to make paper airplanes, which they then threw around the classroom. Dick and Donna were married on June 1, 1952, and were together for 72 years, living and farming on a long-established family farm. They raised three children, Dennis, Denise, and Debra. Through the years, Donna was a homemaker and substitute teacher, and worked many years in the Cornell College Library, but most important were her relationships as wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Donna and Dick were active in the Linn Grove Presbyterian Church, which is located on the corner of the family farm. Donna was an avid writer of family genealogy and other history, as well as poetry. She believed a handwritten letter held immeasurable value to its receiver, and she wrote many. She was always busy with her hands, whether writing, gardening, knitting, baking, decorating, and much more. Just a few years ago, she set a goal to knit an afghan as a keepsake for everyone in her family, including each great-grandchild, and she accomplished it. She is survived by her husband, Richard; son, Dennis (LeAnn) Strother of Hampton; daughters, Denise (Mark) Clark of Marion, and Debra (Jim) Hoffmann of Chapel Hill, N.C.; eight grandchildren, Tyler (Mandy) Strother, Scott (Becky) Strother, Stacy (Will) Farmer, Joe Clark, Jeremy (Jen) Clark, Jake Clark, Kip (Laci) Hoffmann, and Makenzie (Steven) Schultz; and two stepgrandchildren, Kyle (Celia) Butson and Andrea (Daniel) Stember; 12 great-grandchildren, Lily and Eli Strother, Brody, Ryder, and Madox Strother, Nora and Emma Clark, Kai and Finn Hoffmann, Jude, Grady and Hattie Schultz; three stepgreat-grandchildren, Eleanor, Willa, and Zoe Stember; two sisters-in-law, Erma Heiken and Helen Heiken; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Jack and Jim Heiken; sister, Ruth Ann Corporan; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Lynn Grove Presbyterian Church, 2000 Linn Grove Road, Mount Vernon, IA 52314, or the charity of your choice.