Donna Elaine Dawson

Born May 25, 1957, in Elgin, Illinois, the daughter of Elaine Volle Franz and Russell Franz.

She was raised in Woodridge, Illinois, and graduated from the Jacksonville School for the Deaf and Blind in 1976.

Donna preserved throughout the 68 years of her brilliant life. She was born with severe physical disabilities that limited her mobility and sight. Despite these challenges, Donna excelled, beginning her work career in Chicago at Visual Handicap Managers, Inc, a vending machine fulfillment corporation. At VHMI, she worked as a bookkeeping manager and is where she met Roger Dawson, the owner of the company. After a seven-year courtship, Donna and Roger were married in the summer of 1985. For 35 years, Roger and Donna lived a life full of love and adventure where their disabilities did not define them but provided them with a love for Jesus Christ and the confidence to succeed in business and the keen ability to make friends and entertain them with laughter and a bottle of good wine and a stiff glass of bourbon.

Along with many of their adventures around the Chicagoland area, Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the Dawsons traveled to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where they rode the mountain tram line through the Smokey Mountains.

Donna is survived by her stepsons, Kenneth (Natalie) Dawson of Goodlettsville, Tennessee and Norman Dawson of Chicago, Illinois and her two brothers, Paul (Chris) Franz of Elyria, Ohio and Michael Franz of Calabash, North Carolina. Also surviving Donna are her two cherished aunts, Susan Fletcher of Newtown, Illinois and Lynn (Dan) Royse of State College, Pennsylvania and her special sister-in-law Judy House of Carterville, Illinois. Donna was an aunt to several nieces and nephews. Her parents preceded her in death.

An active member of Brush Hill Presbyterian Church, Nashville, TN, Donna sang in the choir and participated in many parishioner groups and activities. She had a special bond with her pastor, the Reverend Paul Tucker who eloquently officiated her funeral service in Fairview Heights, Illinois.

Shortly after her husband Roger’s passing in 2020, Donna moved to Brookdale Assisted Living Center, Goodlettsville, where she met many amazing and faithful friends. One friend Ann Link stood out as her special best friend. Ann and Donna established and flourished in this nurturing and soul confirming friendship that served as needed replacement for her devoted husband, Roger.

Kenny Dawson provided the necessities and comforts in life to make Donna felt cared for and apart of a loving and supportive family for the remaining years of her life.

Donna Dawson’s life is captured in the scriptures and the words of James the disciple where he speaks about how the faithful will face life challenges. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the tribulation of your faith produces perseverance.” (Ja 1:2)