Obituary: Donna Gordon

July 18, 1916 – June 16, 2013

A devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Donna was just one month shy of her 97th birthday.

Born in Marion, Ohio to Daniel Emerson Randall and Eva Mae (Warner) Randall. At the age of 3 Donna’s mother had died and she and her sisters, Ruth and June, moved to Merritt Island, FL (now Cape Kennedy) to live with their paternal grandparents.

Donna graduated from La Crosse Central High School, attended secretarial school and moved to Madison, WI where she met her future husband, Royal L. D. Gordon. They married in 1939 in Madison, and later settled in Whitefish Bay, WI where they raised their family.

Once her children were all in school, she again joined the work force as secretary to the Director of the Recreation Department in Whitefish Bay, where she worked for many years. Her husband, siblings, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law all preceded her in death, as did almost all her dear friends.

As members of Our Saviors Evangelical Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Donna developed the first Sunday School for three-year-olds and was the first woman to be appointed to the Church Council. She and her husband Royal were the creators of the Next Door Foundation, which was started as a safe place for the local youth to congregate, and has evolved into what is now one of Milwaukee’s finest programs for central city families, providing parent workshops, headstart programs, early childhood education, and much more.

Donna was an enthusiastic, positive thinking woman. She embraced life and all it offered. She loved to travel, enjoyed a good political debate, was an excellent hostess, and had a generous heart. She taught her family the importance of giving back and unconditional love.

One of her most often repeated stories was her father’s advice in preparation for life. He said there were three important things to know: How to dance, how to play poker and how to swim. She enjoyed all three and taught her great grandsons, Travis and Zachary, how to play poker.

Special thanks to the staff at St. Camillus for their attentive care and to Donna’s nieces and nephews who spent time with her over these past months; their love and attention to our Mom is greatly appreciated. Most importantly, thank you to her niece, Cherrie Putchell, R.N., who selflessly devoted many days and nights to her care in the last six months.

She is survived by her three children, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren: Sandra Belle Gordon Ghormley (the late Dr. N. Rex Ghormley), grandson Scott (Lisa Welch) Ghormley and great grandchildren, Kylee, Caden and Logan, and granddaughters Kerry Ghormley and Erin Ghormley. Lance Dewey Gordon (Ellen DeForno), grandsons, Christopher and Matthew (Brynn Bogart) and great grandchildren Lucas and Audrey. And Todd Randall Gordon (Kathie Uttech), granddaughter, Nicolle Gordon Reavis (J. Andrew Reavis), great grandsons Travis and Zachary Reavis, and grandsons Brett Gordon (partner Timothy Ramzyk), and Kent Gordon (Elizabeth Rogge).

Donna leaves this earth but not our memories and our hearts.

(Obituary provided by Feerick Funeral Home)