Donna Menken
2022-11-19
Donna Jean (Butler) Menken went peacefully to Heaven on Saturday, November 19, 2022.
She was the eldest daughter of Don and Doris (Devol) Butler. Donna called Des Moines, Iowa her hometown. She graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1959 and attended Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa) where she met, and then married, Don Menken in 1961. They moved, with their young children, Deanne and Dennis, to "beautiful northeast Iowa" and Donna resided in Elkader for 33 years.
After several short-term jobs, Donna worked her way through the ranks at the local newspaper, The Clayton County Register, and eventually became the Editor and Advertising Manager. She wrote a weekly column and was a proficient writer and photographer for the paper.
She was also the Executive Secretary of Elkader's Chamber of Commerce for 20 years. She combined her position with both the newspaper and the Chamber to go "on assignment" with the town's delegation to Algeria to formally begin the Sister City relationship with Elkader's namesake, Emir Abd el Kader's birth city of Mascara, Algeria. She called the trip a highlight of her career.
Donna also ventured into business ownership with a print shop before returning to Des Moines in 1997. She worked for Allied Group Mortgage and retired from Nationwide Mortgage.
Donna is survived by her daughter, Deanne (Gene) Sharp and her son, Dennis (Melanie) Menken; her grandsons, John (Desiree) and Jacob; her sister, Cheryl (Martin) Neal; nieces and a nephew and their children; and her long-time companion, Lianna Fielder.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, where the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Private inurnment will be at Graceland Cemetery in Creston, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Lutheran Church of Hope or Iowa Public Television. Online condolences will be welcomed at IlesCares.com. To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Donna Jean (Butler) Menken, please visit our Tribute Store.
She was the eldest daughter of Don and Doris (Devol) Butler. Donna called Des Moines, Iowa her hometown. She graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1959 and attended Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa) where she met, and then married, Don Menken in 1961. They moved, with their young children, Deanne and Dennis, to "beautiful northeast Iowa" and Donna resided in Elkader for 33 years.
After several short-term jobs, Donna worked her way through the ranks at the local newspaper, The Clayton County Register, and eventually became the Editor and Advertising Manager. She wrote a weekly column and was a proficient writer and photographer for the paper.
She was also the Executive Secretary of Elkader's Chamber of Commerce for 20 years. She combined her position with both the newspaper and the Chamber to go "on assignment" with the town's delegation to Algeria to formally begin the Sister City relationship with Elkader's namesake, Emir Abd el Kader's birth city of Mascara, Algeria. She called the trip a highlight of her career.
Donna also ventured into business ownership with a print shop before returning to Des Moines in 1997. She worked for Allied Group Mortgage and retired from Nationwide Mortgage.
Donna is survived by her daughter, Deanne (Gene) Sharp and her son, Dennis (Melanie) Menken; her grandsons, John (Desiree) and Jacob; her sister, Cheryl (Martin) Neal; nieces and a nephew and their children; and her long-time companion, Lianna Fielder.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, where the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Private inurnment will be at Graceland Cemetery in Creston, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Lutheran Church of Hope or Iowa Public Television. Online condolences will be welcomed at IlesCares.com. To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Donna Jean (Butler) Menken, please visit our Tribute Store.