Donna Chenet, 78

Donna Chenet, 78, of rural New Sharon, IA, passed away at her home on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.

Donna Ann Chenet, daughter of George and Margaret (Pfannabecker) Seeber, was born December 22, 1945, in Sigourney, IA. As a young girl, she grew up near Lancaster, IA, and attended country school. She furthered her education at Sigourney High School and graduated with the class of 1963. After her education, she worked for a few years at the Amana, later known as Whirlpool. Donna later met Angelo Chenet, and the two were married in Lancaster, IA, on June 12, 1977. The family then moved to Harvey, IA, where Donna took on the role of homemaker. Donna and her family later moved near Tracy, IA, where they transformed a rustic cabin into a home where she raised her family. Donna did everything from refinishing floors to putting in a new ceiling. She and her family endured multiple floods at the cabin when the river would rise, even having water waist-deep in the home. After her family had grown and left the house, she worked for 11 years at Pella Corp.

Donna enjoyed many hobbies, including sewing, quilting, crocheting, and wood crafting; she took many wooden posts and turned them into different statues. She also tended a large garden and was a devoted canner. She even made gardening a family adventure, “allowing” the kids to pull weeds. A true love of Donna’s were her animals. She raised many different farm animals and more interesting animals, including the occasional squirrel and raccoon, and even nursed a baby hawk back to health. She truly enjoyed the companionship of her feathered friends, including her Yellow Amazon Parrot, Lucy, with whom she has been for over 30 years.

Donna’s family includes her children, Sheryl (David Poland) Duryee of Pella, IA, Dan (Helena) Hayes of New Sharon, IA, and Mark Chenet of Knoxville, IA; her grandchildren, Amber (Jon Lanaghan) Duryee, Colton Duryee, Carson (Cindi Walker) Duryee, Dylan Duryee, Molly (Lyman) Marshall, Allen (Kayla Orobia) Hayes and William Hayes, her great-grandchildren; Finnley Lanaghan, Oliver Marshall, and Onalnee Marshall, and a brother Robert (Margaret) Seeber of Sigourney, IA.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Angelo.

As was her wish, Donna’s body has been cremated, and a memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Dan Hayes and sent to the Langkamp Funeral Chapel, to be designated at a later time. Langkamp Funeral Chapel and Crematory has been entrusted with the arrangements.