Donna M. Vermeulen

1943 - 2024

Donna M. Vermeulen
Born: April 21, 1943 in Moline, IL
Died: November 1, 2024 in Port Byron, IL
Donna M. Vermeulen, 81, of Port Byron, IL, died Friday, November 1, 2024 at her home surrounded by her family. Services will be held at 10:00 am Friday, November 8, 2024 at Port Byron First United Methodist Church, Port Byron. Visitation will be from 4-7 pm Thursday at Gibson – Bode Funeral Home, Port Byron. Burial will be in Fairfield Cemetery, Port Byron. Memorials may be made to Port Byron First United Methodist Church.
Donna was born April 21, 1943, in Moline, IL, the daughter of Donald M. and Rose Marie (Eipper) Dunn. She graduated from Riverdale High School in 1961. Donna married Richard R. "Dick" Vermeulen on January 7, 1962 at Port Byron First United Methodist Church.
Donna's first job was working at the former Dairy Dell while in high school. She spent the next several years staying home to raise her 3 children. Later, she began a 25-year career in banking, retiring from Metro Bank in 2003. Donna was a longtime member and past president of TOPS.
She was a 70+ year member of Port Byron Methodist Church, where she enjoyed singing in the choir and helping with crafts for the annual Christmas Traditions fundraiser. Donna had a gift for music. She enjoyed playing the piano and singing duets with her father in church and for weddings. Her favorite to listen to were 50's and gospel music. She and Dick were Circa 21 ticket holders for over 20 years.
Donna was an excellent baker and cook. She loved making big holiday meals for her family, baking cookies and candies at Christmas time and delivering her baked goods to many of the businesses that she worked at or patronized. She enjoyed traveling the country, taking bus trips and cruises with her husband Dick and she cherished her breakfast get-togethers with her class of 61 friends.
Her greatest joy was her family and attending her children and grandchildren's events. She and Dick were proud of the property and home they finished together and lived in for 59 years. They loved having family over for cookouts, dinner and reminiscing around the campfire, or a lazy Saturday afternoon playing a game or two of Croquet.
She is survived by her husband, Dick; children, Doug Vermeulen, Deena (Greg) Mitchell, Dan (Shelley) Vermeulen, all of Port Byron; grandchildren, Drew (Christen) Vermeulen, Valerie (Mike) Dodge, Chelsea (Justin) Claus, Bryce Ditto; great grandchildren, Porter, Jaxon, Finn, Peyton, Wyatt, June; and sisters, Denise (Howard) Tyler, and Darcene (Dean) Sutton; She was preceded in death by her parents; sister and brother-in-law, Diane and Larry Cole; and sister in infancy, Darla Jill Dunn.
The family would like to thank Pastor Roberta Robbins for her many hospital visits and support, the First Responders, MercyOne Genesis ER and Cardiac Teams, Unity Point ICU, Neurology, Cardiac and Endoscopy Teams as well as Unity Point Hospice for their loving care.
Share a memory or condolence at www.gibsonbodefh.com