Donna Tonda was born on April 22, 1932, in Pella, Iowa to Harold and Marie Veenstra.
She and her younger sister Carol Ann were raised on a farm on the outskirts of town and graduated from Pella High School. She went on to study at Central College and became a beloved kindergarten teacher in Knoxville.
She married Joe Tonda in 1955 and they made their home on an acreage west of Knoxville that they called Tondaville where they lived for 50 plus years. She soon left her teaching job to dedicate herself to her family with the arrival of the first of five children who were her pride and joy and life's mission. While Joe worked as an oil jobber for Skelly Gas, she loved bringing up the kids and renewed her passion with her grandkids.
She was also dedicated to the love of her life, Joe, who retired early for disability, and assisted him tirelessly for numerous years until his death in 2009. She was relentless, unselfish, compassionate, and always late. She and Joe divided their time together between a home in Pella and winters in Sarasota, Florida for over 30 years where they loved to watch the sunset over the ocean.
The recent years leading up to her death on April 30 were daunted with Alzheimer's. Donna is survived by her five children: Joel, Elisa (Cinus), Gina (Williamson), Teresa (Van Vliet), Jennifer Maria (Hawkins); and nine beloved grandchildren: Spenser and Evan, Margherita, Kate and Ethan, Cade and Chloe, Broc and Sophia.
She and her younger sister Carol Ann were raised on a farm on the outskirts of town and graduated from Pella High School. She went on to study at Central College and became a beloved kindergarten teacher in Knoxville.
She married Joe Tonda in 1955 and they made their home on an acreage west of Knoxville that they called Tondaville where they lived for 50 plus years. She soon left her teaching job to dedicate herself to her family with the arrival of the first of five children who were her pride and joy and life's mission. While Joe worked as an oil jobber for Skelly Gas, she loved bringing up the kids and renewed her passion with her grandkids.
She was also dedicated to the love of her life, Joe, who retired early for disability, and assisted him tirelessly for numerous years until his death in 2009. She was relentless, unselfish, compassionate, and always late. She and Joe divided their time together between a home in Pella and winters in Sarasota, Florida for over 30 years where they loved to watch the sunset over the ocean.
The recent years leading up to her death on April 30 were daunted with Alzheimer's. Donna is survived by her five children: Joel, Elisa (Cinus), Gina (Williamson), Teresa (Van Vliet), Jennifer Maria (Hawkins); and nine beloved grandchildren: Spenser and Evan, Margherita, Kate and Ethan, Cade and Chloe, Broc and Sophia.
Donna Tonda was born on April 22, 1932, in Pella, Iowa to Harold and Marie Veenstra.
She and her younger sister Carol Ann were raised on a farm on the outskirts of town and graduated from Pella High School. She went on to study at Central College and became a beloved kindergarten teacher in Knoxville.
She married Joe Tonda in 1955 and they made their home on an acreage west of Knoxville that they called Tondaville where they lived for 50 plus years. She soon left her teaching job to dedicate herself to her family with the arrival of the first of five children who were her pride and joy and life's mission. While Joe worked as an oil jobber for Skelly Gas, she loved bringing up the kids and renewed her passion with her grandkids.
She was also dedicated to the love of her life, Joe, who retired early for disability, and assisted him tirelessly for numerous years until his death in 2009. She was relentless, unselfish, compassionate, and always late. She and Joe divided their time together between a home in Pella and winters in Sarasota, Florida for over 30 years where they loved to watch the sunset over the ocean.
The recent years leading up to her death on April 30 were daunted with Alzheimer's. Donna is survived by her five children: Joel, Elisa (Cinus), Gina (Williamson), Teresa (Van Vliet), Jennifer Maria (Hawkins); and nine beloved grandchildren: Spenser and Evan, Margherita, Kate and Ethan, Cade and Chloe, Broc and Sophia.
She and her younger sister Carol Ann were raised on a farm on the outskirts of town and graduated from Pella High School. She went on to study at Central College and became a beloved kindergarten teacher in Knoxville.
She married Joe Tonda in 1955 and they made their home on an acreage west of Knoxville that they called Tondaville where they lived for 50 plus years. She soon left her teaching job to dedicate herself to her family with the arrival of the first of five children who were her pride and joy and life's mission. While Joe worked as an oil jobber for Skelly Gas, she loved bringing up the kids and renewed her passion with her grandkids.
She was also dedicated to the love of her life, Joe, who retired early for disability, and assisted him tirelessly for numerous years until his death in 2009. She was relentless, unselfish, compassionate, and always late. She and Joe divided their time together between a home in Pella and winters in Sarasota, Florida for over 30 years where they loved to watch the sunset over the ocean.
The recent years leading up to her death on April 30 were daunted with Alzheimer's. Donna is survived by her five children: Joel, Elisa (Cinus), Gina (Williamson), Teresa (Van Vliet), Jennifer Maria (Hawkins); and nine beloved grandchildren: Spenser and Evan, Margherita, Kate and Ethan, Cade and Chloe, Broc and Sophia.
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