Donna Kah

Proverbs 31:10 asks: “A woman of noble character, who can find?” That woman was Donna Kah. She is the daughter of Frank & Mary Tubeszewski born in Greenfield, Wisconsin. Though her maiden name suggests part of her ethnicity, she particularly identified with her mother’s (Albanese) Italian roots. And what an Italian beauty she was. Her friends, family and colleagues always found in her a source of effervescent joy, a magnetic charm, and the kind of selfless love that made your day better just to know her.

Graduating from Greenfield High School in 1972, she was the prom queen and showed off her rhythm & style in the pompom cheer team. Donna had an intellect and proven ability that could have led her to achieve any degree in education or the height of any profession, but her highest aspiration was always to be a mom.

On August 7, 1976, she married John Kah of Racine, Wisconsin. A week after their wedding they travelled to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Donna’s administrative assistant skills supported both as John did post-graduate studies at a seminary to become an ordained minister.

John & Donna became a team and a love story. To spend time with them would display to any observer that these two are truly “one” as God describes a marriage in Genesis 2:24. They served six different congregations during John’s forty years of service in Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and Sacramento.

John liked to say to her, “I always loved you, even before I met you.” She would giggle, but it was true.

Then came the summit of her aspirations – the birth of her four children. First John in 1981. And Jamie in 1983. Then Jenna in 1985. And to her surprise and delight, Justin in 1990. She was once asked, “Would you do it again?” and she quickly answered, “In a heartbeat.” Her touch, her selfless investment in their lives continued up to the very last day of her life. Outside of her faith, nothing was more important to Donna than her children. She even home schooled all four of them using state-of-the-art resources and the kind of personal attention that led each child to have an educational advantage over their peers. She threw everything she “had” into them, and like an NFL athlete, she “left it all” on the playing field.

It was fun to watch her absolutely “light up” whenever she saw them later as grown adults. They knew her love for them and it taught them self-confidence and a sense of security that made them the great adults they are today.

And along came three grandchildren. Pennie in 2017, then Shepherd and Hudson in 2019. Once again, she naturally expressed her love and care for them. What joy this brought to her, and to the children. They called her “Nana”.

But in the center of all of this, the very heartbeat of what made Donna, was her faith in Jesus Christ. Hers was not a casual, “Sunday only” faith in Christ. She longed for God’s word and was zealous in worship and prayer. As a sinner she knew her need for a Savior and spoke of her faith to anyone who would listen.

Donna would read a 500-page novel in two days. But she had this irritating habit of reading the end of the story first. When asked why? She said, “I want to see if the read is worth my time.”

Now again Donna has read the end of the story. At the end of her earthly story, she has a husband who adores her and yearns to continue the love story in heaven. At the end

of her earthly story, she has four children who bear the indelible mark of her character, and who cannot escape what she has taught them about life and faith, and they know how she has loved them with a Christ-inspired love. And she has three grandchildren who have benefited from her touch, care and legacy of love.

At the end of her earthly story, she endured a swift, random sickness that took her life far too soon in a matter of just a few days. But she knew with certainty the real story of Jesus death and resurrection and the eternal life which God has promised to all who love and long for His appearing. At that moment, at 1:25pm last Sunday, August 17 Donna’s loving Father said to her: “Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master!”