"Donna" was born on Mother’s Day, May 14, 1939, in Lincoln County, Minnesota to Chris Peter Jensen and Elsie Bertha (Sommerlade) Jensen. She was the sixth of eight daughters.
After graduating Pipestone High School in 1957, she married Norman Vander Poel on June 16, 1957, at The Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. Together they owned and operated The Lunch Bowl” on Main Street in Pipestone, Minnesota until 1960. Three sons were born to them - Leland, Todd and Jay, before pulling up stakes and moving to California in 1964. Eventually they settled in Fresno, California, in late 1965.
Donna carved out her career path first as an Avon District Manager in the mid 70’s, and then on to be the Owner/Operator of Fair Lady Dress Shop in Fresno until 1995. She subsequently worked as a Cafeteria Manager for Fresno Unified School District until she retired in 2011.
Donna was preceded in death by her husband Norman in 2019. She is survived by her children: Leland Vander Poel (Marcia) of Fresno, California, Todd Vander Poel (Pamela) of Clovis, California, and Jay Vander Poel of Riverdale, California. She is also survived by her 10 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.
A Visitation for Donna Rae will be held Wednesday, June 4, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Boice Funeral Home, 308 Pollasky Avenue, Clovis, California 93612.
A Funeral service will occur Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 2550 Gettysburg Avenue, Clovis, California 93611.
A Committal Service will be held immediately following the Funeral Service at Fresno Memorial Gardens, 175 South Cornelia Avenue, Clovis, California 93706.
WEBSITE INVITATION
Please join us in remembering Donna Rae Marie Vander Poel by visiting our memorial at www.boicefuneralhome.com.
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