Anchorage Daily News November 22, 2008
Former Anchorage resident Donna Jane Thiel, 84, died Nov. 18, 2008, at her home in Salem, Ore. A memorial service was at First Christian Church, Marion and Cottage streets, in Salem.
Donna Jane Thiel was born Dec. 4, 1923, in Broken Bow, Neb. Her parents, Sid and LeNore Van Dyke, were farmers. Dust Bowl days caused the family to relocate in Oregon in 1937. Donna attended schools in Rickreall, Monmouth and Pedee, where she graduated in the spring of 1942. In the summer of 1942, she went to Seattle to work at Boeing Aircraft as a Rosie the Riveter, putting rivets in B-17s (Flying Fortress.) On Dec. 5, 1942, at her parents' home in Salem, Donna married Warren A. Thiel, her one and only love. Warren was in the Coast Guard and his duties took them to Seattle, Aberdeen and Copalis Beach, Wash. At the end of World War II, they moved to Salem. Five wonderful children joined the family through the years and were always cherished by their parents. In June 1978, Warren crossed into Heaven after a long illness. He continues to be missed. Donna never tired of volunteering at school and at church. When the kids were older, she did house work in homes and later worked at Willamette University. For one year, Donna was assistant manager and activities director in a Salem retirement home. In 1981, she was challenged by an opportunity to work in child care in Bethel, a job she loved for two years. After a few months back in Oregon, she returned to Alaska and worked a variety of jobs in Anchorage until landing one at Anchorage Pioneers Home in activities, adding much to the residents' quality of life. She retired in 1990. In 1999, after 18 years living in Alaska, Donna returned to Salem to be closer to family. Elder hostels and other travel brought much pleasure. Volunteering was very important to her, lately reading to "shut-ins" and having singalongs with her mountain dulcimer. Writing, especially poetry, gave her creativity an outlet. Faith in God never wavered. Time with family and close friends took top billing always.
Survivors include five children, David (Arleta) in Norwalk, Conn.; Mick in Pedee, Ore.; LaDonna Joy in St. Helens, Ore.; Ken (Nancy) in Mercer Island, Wash.; Noel (Chris) in Dallas, Ore.; 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, Donna requested that memorials be made to a program that prevents child abuse. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Former Anchorage resident Donna Jane Thiel, 84, died Nov. 18, 2008, at her home in Salem, Ore. A memorial service was at First Christian Church, Marion and Cottage streets, in Salem.
Donna Jane Thiel was born Dec. 4, 1923, in Broken Bow, Neb. Her parents, Sid and LeNore Van Dyke, were farmers. Dust Bowl days caused the family to relocate in Oregon in 1937. Donna attended schools in Rickreall, Monmouth and Pedee, where she graduated in the spring of 1942. In the summer of 1942, she went to Seattle to work at Boeing Aircraft as a Rosie the Riveter, putting rivets in B-17s (Flying Fortress.) On Dec. 5, 1942, at her parents' home in Salem, Donna married Warren A. Thiel, her one and only love. Warren was in the Coast Guard and his duties took them to Seattle, Aberdeen and Copalis Beach, Wash. At the end of World War II, they moved to Salem. Five wonderful children joined the family through the years and were always cherished by their parents. In June 1978, Warren crossed into Heaven after a long illness. He continues to be missed. Donna never tired of volunteering at school and at church. When the kids were older, she did house work in homes and later worked at Willamette University. For one year, Donna was assistant manager and activities director in a Salem retirement home. In 1981, she was challenged by an opportunity to work in child care in Bethel, a job she loved for two years. After a few months back in Oregon, she returned to Alaska and worked a variety of jobs in Anchorage until landing one at Anchorage Pioneers Home in activities, adding much to the residents' quality of life. She retired in 1990. In 1999, after 18 years living in Alaska, Donna returned to Salem to be closer to family. Elder hostels and other travel brought much pleasure. Volunteering was very important to her, lately reading to "shut-ins" and having singalongs with her mountain dulcimer. Writing, especially poetry, gave her creativity an outlet. Faith in God never wavered. Time with family and close friends took top billing always.
Survivors include five children, David (Arleta) in Norwalk, Conn.; Mick in Pedee, Ore.; LaDonna Joy in St. Helens, Ore.; Ken (Nancy) in Mercer Island, Wash.; Noel (Chris) in Dallas, Ore.; 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, Donna requested that memorials be made to a program that prevents child abuse. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Anchorage Daily News November 22, 2008
Former Anchorage resident Donna Jane Thiel, 84, died Nov. 18, 2008, at her home in Salem, Ore. A memorial service was at First Christian Church, Marion and Cottage streets, in Salem.
Donna Jane Thiel was born Dec. 4, 1923, in Broken Bow, Neb. Her parents, Sid and LeNore Van Dyke, were farmers. Dust Bowl days caused the family to relocate in Oregon in 1937. Donna attended schools in Rickreall, Monmouth and Pedee, where she graduated in the spring of 1942. In the summer of 1942, she went to Seattle to work at Boeing Aircraft as a Rosie the Riveter, putting rivets in B-17s (Flying Fortress.) On Dec. 5, 1942, at her parents' home in Salem, Donna married Warren A. Thiel, her one and only love. Warren was in the Coast Guard and his duties took them to Seattle, Aberdeen and Copalis Beach, Wash. At the end of World War II, they moved to Salem. Five wonderful children joined the family through the years and were always cherished by their parents. In June 1978, Warren crossed into Heaven after a long illness. He continues to be missed. Donna never tired of volunteering at school and at church. When the kids were older, she did house work in homes and later worked at Willamette University. For one year, Donna was assistant manager and activities director in a Salem retirement home. In 1981, she was challenged by an opportunity to work in child care in Bethel, a job she loved for two years. After a few months back in Oregon, she returned to Alaska and worked a variety of jobs in Anchorage until landing one at Anchorage Pioneers Home in activities, adding much to the residents' quality of life. She retired in 1990. In 1999, after 18 years living in Alaska, Donna returned to Salem to be closer to family. Elder hostels and other travel brought much pleasure. Volunteering was very important to her, lately reading to "shut-ins" and having singalongs with her mountain dulcimer. Writing, especially poetry, gave her creativity an outlet. Faith in God never wavered. Time with family and close friends took top billing always.
Survivors include five children, David (Arleta) in Norwalk, Conn.; Mick in Pedee, Ore.; LaDonna Joy in St. Helens, Ore.; Ken (Nancy) in Mercer Island, Wash.; Noel (Chris) in Dallas, Ore.; 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, Donna requested that memorials be made to a program that prevents child abuse. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Former Anchorage resident Donna Jane Thiel, 84, died Nov. 18, 2008, at her home in Salem, Ore. A memorial service was at First Christian Church, Marion and Cottage streets, in Salem.
Donna Jane Thiel was born Dec. 4, 1923, in Broken Bow, Neb. Her parents, Sid and LeNore Van Dyke, were farmers. Dust Bowl days caused the family to relocate in Oregon in 1937. Donna attended schools in Rickreall, Monmouth and Pedee, where she graduated in the spring of 1942. In the summer of 1942, she went to Seattle to work at Boeing Aircraft as a Rosie the Riveter, putting rivets in B-17s (Flying Fortress.) On Dec. 5, 1942, at her parents' home in Salem, Donna married Warren A. Thiel, her one and only love. Warren was in the Coast Guard and his duties took them to Seattle, Aberdeen and Copalis Beach, Wash. At the end of World War II, they moved to Salem. Five wonderful children joined the family through the years and were always cherished by their parents. In June 1978, Warren crossed into Heaven after a long illness. He continues to be missed. Donna never tired of volunteering at school and at church. When the kids were older, she did house work in homes and later worked at Willamette University. For one year, Donna was assistant manager and activities director in a Salem retirement home. In 1981, she was challenged by an opportunity to work in child care in Bethel, a job she loved for two years. After a few months back in Oregon, she returned to Alaska and worked a variety of jobs in Anchorage until landing one at Anchorage Pioneers Home in activities, adding much to the residents' quality of life. She retired in 1990. In 1999, after 18 years living in Alaska, Donna returned to Salem to be closer to family. Elder hostels and other travel brought much pleasure. Volunteering was very important to her, lately reading to "shut-ins" and having singalongs with her mountain dulcimer. Writing, especially poetry, gave her creativity an outlet. Faith in God never wavered. Time with family and close friends took top billing always.
Survivors include five children, David (Arleta) in Norwalk, Conn.; Mick in Pedee, Ore.; LaDonna Joy in St. Helens, Ore.; Ken (Nancy) in Mercer Island, Wash.; Noel (Chris) in Dallas, Ore.; 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, Donna requested that memorials be made to a program that prevents child abuse. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
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