DonaClaire passed away on Friday, May 23, 2025 at the age of 91. Dona was born in St. Louis County Missouri on February 6, 1934 to the late Donald Arthur, Sr. and Clara Deems (nee Freimuth); beloved wife of the 70 years to the late Paul Rodenroth. Loving mother of Linda Kay (Terrence) Marler, Lisa Jean (Steven) Rost and Michael Paul (Marie) Rodenroth. Dearest grandmother of Kristina (Timothy) Reimler, Courtney (Jameson) Barrow, Zachary (Haley) Rost, Jessica (Matthew) Martin and Jordan Rodenroth; cherished great-grandmother of Lucas Reimler, Dechlan Barrow, Hunter Rost, Adelaide Barrow, Kaydee Rost and Finnley Martin; dearest sister of the late Donald Arthur (Sharon) Deems, Jr. and the late Kathy (Randy) Crumbley; dear sister-in-law of Robert D. (the late Lillian) Rodenroth and Ronald T. (Linda) Rodenroth. Dona will leave cherished nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews and her many friends. She will be greatly missed by all that knew her.
Dona lived on Heege Avenue in St. Louis until her father built a home on 141 in Fenton. She graduated from Eureka High School in 1952. After marriage to Paul, they lived in a 25 foot trailer on her parent’s property. They lived there until Paul returned from his tour in Korea and while he completed his Pharmacy Degree with their daughter Linda. They built their home on Dornseif in 1958 and lived there until they left this earth to their new home in Heaven.
Dona was a stay-at-home mom until Michael started school and then worked for the Fox School District as a school cafeteria worker while the children were in school. She completed her bookkeeping degree at night school with Paul while Paul was getting his private pilot’s license. She started working with the St. Louis Suburban Journal as a bookkeeper the day after their 25th wedding anniversary. She left the Journal at Paul’s request when Paul wanted to take a longer motorcycle trip than the Journal would allow vacation time.
They traveled to both US coasts on their motorcycle with Ollie and Shirley Fogelbach and then traveled for 25 years with the Christian Motorcycle Association (CMA). While traveling with CMA, they were on the Million Man March to DC and were involved with the Prison Ministries all over the Bi-State Area.
She was an active member of First Baptist Church of Arnold for over 50 years. Dona and Paul cooked breakfast on Tuesday mornings in the Family Life Center for 5 years and were “famous” for their Biscuits and Gravy that they arrived at church to cook at 4:30 am. They served for 5 years with the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team and traveled with Focus on Missions to Mexico with Steve and Judy Smith. She was a Sunday School teacher, Church Bus Driver assistant and worked in the kitchen with Cindy Hunter to help provide funeral dinners, banquet and missionary dinners and provide food for other various FBCA functions.
Dona was known for her ability to cook delicious food and would always try to feed you home cooked meals. She loved to cook, and always cooked way more than her and Paul could consume. She “shared” with friends and family who she felt needed extra love whether recovering from illness, grieving or just dealing with the stress of being the caregiver. It was your fault if you visited and walked away hungry. She continued to cook and share up until she was in her 90’s and no longer physically able.
She volunteered for Kindred Hospice for 5 years by making calls to home bound patients and caregivers for “Tuck-in Calls” and loved to pray with them and for them.
Dona and Paul especially enjoyed Kentucky Lake where they personally built on the property originally purchased with Ollie and Shirley Fogelbach. Dona and Paul enjoyed sharing the property and lake with many friends and family.
One of Dona’s most cherished memories from her family and friends are the greeting cards received with a personalized note that she religiously sent for every birthday, anniversary, special event or need to each one of them all the way down to great-great nieces and nephews, every year. Some of which she never had the joy to meet.
She loved her family, many dear friends and serving God dearly.
