April 19, 2023 Donna James, 85
Funeral Celebration of Life Services for Donna James, age 85, of Lenox, who passed away Thursday, April 13, 2023 at her home will be held Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 10:30 AM at the Lenox United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held Monday at the Lenox Community Center from 4 to 7 with the family greeting friends from 5 to 7. Interment will be held at West Fairview Cemetery in Lenox. Memorials may be directed to her the Lenox United Methodist Church. Memories may be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Lenox where we ‘Celebrate Life’.
Donna Marie Schaffer James was born on April 28, 1937 in Iowa City, Iowa to Deryl and Ila Brace Schaffer. Donna was the oldest of 6 children, and grew up in several communities in southwest Iowa during her school years. She attended 10 different schools, including several one room country schools, graduating from Corning High School. As a teenager, she was known far and wide for her roller-skating skills. She was the sophomore Red Raider Beauty Queen attendant, and senior Homecoming candidate.
Donna married the love of her life, Roger James on November 26, 1954 in Bedford. Born to this union were Frank, Jesse, Lauri, and Lisa. As a young married couple, they were members of the church young adult card club, the Gravity Promenaders’ square dance club, and Donna belonged to the Sunnyside Neighborhood Club Donna held several jobs around the area, Corning Coffee Shop, Lenox Super Value, and Sheridan Egg, before returning to school, at the age of 39, to get her Cosmetology License in 1977. She owned and operated Curler Cottage Beauty Salon for over 40 years.
In later years, she was on the Sunrise Apartment Board, and was the Hospitality Chair at her church. Family was very important to her, always making time for her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She attended as many activities as possible, always up for some snuggle time with grands, and baking cookies to keep a full cookie jar. The best times were spent camping at the family campground with extended family joining together. Camping at the Iowa State Fair was another family tradition.
She loved to dance, and she and Roger always danced a Polka at all of the family weddings, with their grandchildren requesting music especially for them.
Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 68 years, Roger, children, Frank (Sherry) of Perry, IA, Jesse (Patty), of Nodaway, IA; Lauri (John) Greenlee of Corning, IA; and Lisa (LeRoy) Jensen of Lenox, IA, and their foreign exchange daughter, Ellis Eggens from The Netherlands. Seventeen grandchildren, Erik James, Heather James, Lacey (Joe) Otten, Kristell (Cody) Day, Casey (Miguel) Negrete, Morgan (Chase) Hackwell, Jason (Courtney) Walter, Jeremy (Nichole) Walter, Toni Greenlee, Jordan Walter (Shyla), Dustin Greenlee (Maleah), Miki Greenlee (Joel), Jade (McKenna) Walter, Jamie Greenlee (Dalton), Drew Jensen, Kaylee (Tanner) Bower, and Brette Jensen, and 39 great grandchildren, with one great-great grandson due any day. Sister, Dorinda Sorenson, sisters-in-law, Susie Schaffer and Linda
England. Brothers-in-law, Virgil James, Gary James.
Preceding her in death is great- granddaughter, Arya Greenlee, along with numerous siblings and in-laws
Although Donna will be greatly missed,
her love and inspiration will live on through her family.
