Following her graduation from Chariton High School in 1948, Donna received her teaching credentials and taught school one room schoolhouses in Lucas, Jefferson and Wapello Counties. She married Herbert (Jake) DeBok on August 7, 1949. Donna and Jake had two children, three grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Donna was a devoted housewife an mother for much of her adult life. She accompanied her husband for years on a sheep shearing circuit which took them to many of the United States where the family lived in a travel trailer several months every year. Donna assisted her husband with building a house on an acreage on Colyn where they lived for decades prior to their retirement at West Lake.
Donna was active in the community serving as a Girl Scout Leader, 4-H Leader, and earned her real estate license in 1972.
Donna was a long-time member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) where she received a reward for perfect attendance in 1935, was baptized in 1946 and continue to attend to the present serving as a Sunday School teacher, superintendent, CYF Leader, Deaconess and then Elder.
Donna prized traveling and was able to see many sites extensively in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Asia. She traveled by car, bus, train, air and was particularly fond of cruising. Donna loved playing Bridge and until recently could often be seen reading early in the morning until late in the evenings on her porch overlooking West Lake. She appreciated fresh flowers and became quite skillful at flower arranging. She continued to decorate her home for holidays well into her 90’s.
While Donna loved to travel, she was always anxious to come back home to Chariton and her many friends and family. In her later years, Donna became very close with several of her nieces and nephews which she came to appreciate for their continued caring support. She played countless games of Yahtzee and Rubi cube with Jan. Terry visited frequently. Amanda and Clint rescued her often when she needed technical or maintenance support. Gary supplied her with fresh flowers from his impressive roadside garden. Donna was very aware and appreciative that their watchful eyes made it possible for her to maintain her independence and remain at home. Donna was able to stay in contact with several of her classmates from the Charger’s Class of ’48 even as their numbers dwindled.
Donna is preceded in death by her parents Elsie and Tom, her husband Jake, sisters, Gloria Sellers (Cleo), Molly Boss (Byron), in-laws; Herman, Bernice, Roger and Jo DeBok, Richard Hawkins, Lucille Susick, nephews, Jay Sellers (Kim), Sam Voss and son-in-law, Laurie Guthrie.
Donna is survived by her son Nick DeBok, daughter Terry Guthrie, brother Tommy Woodman (Carol), in-laws, Chuck DeBok, Ellen Hawkins, Gerry Fitzgerald,, grandsons, Marc, Matthew, and Andrew Guthrie, great-grandchildren, Audrey, Ian, Eli, Christian, Jacob, Aiden, Olivia, Deidra and Kamryn as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
We who loved her cherished her candor and independent spirit and will miss her without measure. While it seemed to be difficult for her to speak of love, her love for us was always apparent and abundant.
