Donna Jean Bloemker

Donna Jean Bloemker passed away Friday, September 26, 2025, in Presbyterian Senior Care Center, Washington, where she resided for the past four years. She was born September 10, 1933, a daughter of the late Willis Walla and Leona Ruzicka Walla, and was raised on a farm near North Bend, Nebr., where she attended high school. During her teenage years, she earned spending money at the local drug store working as a soda jerk. After graduating from high school in 1950, Donna earned a living working as a bookkeeper in Fremont, Nebr. In 1954, she married Vernon Lyle Bloemker and they soon had four children to raise. After moving to Pennsylvania in 1962, Donna earned her BA in Psychology, graduating in 1969 from California State Teachers College, where her husband taught American Literature. Donna used the sewing skills she learned at the local North Bend area 4-H club to keep herself and her growing family economically and fashionably clothed. Over time, Donna became quite skilled at sewing, and her talent became so adept that she opened her own store called "Sew In Style" in California. At "Sew In Style", Donna sold fabric and sewing machines, and she taught sewing classes. Her skills as a talented seamstress were so well respected that she became a consultant for Pfaff American Sales and for Nancy Zieman of "Sewing with Nancy." In addition to her sewing career, Donna's life involved taking her children to school and attending church activities at Saint Paul's Lutheran Church of Washington, where the family were longtime members. Donna's passing was preceeded by the deaths of her parents, Willis and Leona Walla; father- in-law and mother-in- law, John and Esther Bloemker; her husband, Vernon; sister, Mary Heese; daughter, Janelle Stevenson; daughter-in- law Sandy; brothers-in- law, Russell and Lowell and their wives, Le and Janet. Donna is survived by children, James Dean Bloemker, Jonathan Charles Bloemker, and Jay Jeffrey Bloemker and Jeff's wife, Tammy and their children, John and Joyce; her sister, Charlene Greene, husband Charles and their children; brother-in-law, Norman Heese and his children; the children of Russ and Le; the children of Lowell and Janet; and son-in-law, John Stevenson. Visitation will be held from 10 until the 11 a.m. time of memorial service Saturday, October 11, in the Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Home, 420 Locust Avenue, Washington, with Pastor Robert Greue officiating. Interment will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colo. at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for memorial contributions to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, St. Joseph's Indian School, Shriner's Hospitals for Children, or an animal rescue facility of ones choice. Condolences may be expressed at www.piattandbarnhillfh.com. Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Directors, Inc., Charles R. Piatt, owner/supervisor, Andrew C. Piatt, director.