She was predeceased by her parents; Jerry and Pauline Hammerschmidt, brother, Steve Hammerschmidt and her loving husband of 32 years James Meyn.
Donna is survived by her daughters; Kim Kankel, husband Darrell (of Burnet) and Rene’ Daniel, husband Robert (of Blanco), son, Patrick McGaugh (of Horseshoe Bay), 8 grandchildren: Ashley Bishop, Brandan Kankel, Jessica Brooker, Robert Daniel, Jr, Kaitlyn Hopper, Shelby Schworm, Aletha Kankel and Lillie Daniel; 11 great grandchildren, her much loved cousin Diantha Veltman along with nieces, nephews, and her many, many friends.
Donna was born on October 15, 1946 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was a graduate of Wauwatosa West High School. After graduation she obtained her beautician license and married the love of her life, Jim on June 12, 1965. Their first home was at Hill Airforce Base in Utah and over the next 7 years they made their homes in California and Ohio before they finally settling in Pasadena, Texas to put down roots and raise their girls. Donna lived in Pasadena for the next 32 years before retiring to Horseshoe Bay in 2002
Donna had a varied and interesting career life. She was a salesclerk and manager at Foley’s Department Store, a teller and savings manager for Southmore Savings and Loan, a legal assistant at Thelen, Marrin, Johnson, & Bridges (Houston) and Streusand and Landon (Austin), an administrative assistant/executive director for A Place of Hope and Open Door Recovery, but her last was for Bluebonnet Preschool as a teacher for the baby room.
Donna has left behind a legacy of LOVE!!! The first thing everyone says when you mention her name is how big she loved. Her unconditional love of Christ and her deeply held faith was not just talking the talk but she firmly walked the walk as exampled thru her dedication and commitment to various church (Emmaus/ Stephens) and prison (Kairos/Bridges to Life) ministries.
Donna had many interests and hobbies. She loved cooking- her banana pudding a must at every gathering; gardening – she always had her hand in the soil and her thumb was permanently green; traveling – her luggage was out and passport on hand ready to go when she got the call; and drinking wine – Moscato was a must.
Donna held many titles in her life daughter, wife, mom, friend but her favorite was Meme/ Meme Jeane. She loved her grandbabies and especially her great grandbabies. She always said her one goal was to make it a 3’peat on 5 generations of loving, laughing and living a blessed life with ALL her babies.
In lieu of flowers the family asked that donations be made to the Bluebonnet Methodist Preschool (1101 Bluebonnet Dr., Marble Falls, TX 78654 / fumcmarblefalls.com) or to Open Door Recovery (1107 Ranch Road 1431 #251, Marble Falls, TX 78654 /OpenDoorRecovery.net)
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love; but the Greatest of these LOVE !
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