Donna Maxine Coellen

Donna spent her childhood in Des Moines eventually graduating from East High School and the University of Iowa. She migrated to the beautiful state of Colorado in her early 20's. While the world was just beginning to open up to her, Donna already knew she had a passion for nursing. By the tender age of nine she had decided that she would be a nurse and this is what she was meant to do in life. Despite the lack of a large selection of professional fields available to women in the 1950's, she thankfully knew with absolute certainty she did not want to be a teacher! In her mid 40's, and two growing children later, Donna went back to school for her Master's degree. She chose to specialize in Ostomy care as an enterostomal therapy nurse and after two years of incredibly hard work she received her Master's degree from MD Anderson College. She worked as an expert nurse consultant with the Saint Anthony hospital system and found professional fulfillment through this for over a decade.

Despite being fulfilled professionally, Donna left nursing be a full time grandparent. Her first born grandson was far more rewarding than any job she could have held. They were inseparable and he was the apple of her eye. Several years later the next two grandchildren came and she was delighted to be able to offer the same love and care to them.

In between taking care of grandchildren and working on her house, Donna became a world class traveler. Like nursing, her itch to go places began early and she spent several weeks touring Europe after graduating high school. In the 1990's she met her life partner, Henry Kajiwara, and with their shared passion to see new places they made a point to visit many countries on many different continents. They saw exotic places like Antarctica, Portugal, and Scotland just to name a couple. While the United States wasn't quite as exquisite as destinations overseas, she thoroughly enjoyed traveling through the US. Even in her 60's Donna, Henry, and her son Douglas took on the challenge of the Grand Canyon for a week of camping, rafting, hiking, and just relaxing in the great outdoors.

Warrior, one of a kind, strong, passionate, stubborn, and a woman of many talents are just a few of the ways to describe Donna. She battled and overcame cancer twice. She lived life on her terms with no regrets and no fears. She was a true humanitarian and worked through the Unitarian Universalist church and with non-profits like Amnesty International. Donna was the ultimate planner and when she decided to do something she researched, saved, and considered ALL options before pulling the trigger. One such decision was a 1988 Toyota Landcruiser. She turned in the old '75 sedan that had seen so many family road trips for the “beast” that now went anywhere she wanted to go. She learned how to go 4-wheeling off road and navigate the snow - especially in the mountains. Most of those who ever rode with her have a story about their experience they still share to this day...

Donna had an incredible green thumb and loved gardening. She and Henry took her ordinary backyard, a dream, and years of blood, sweat, and tears and created their own private oasis with a pond (including fish!), bonsai trees, and a multi-level waterfall. She loved to entertain and hostess parties in the house and yard she had perfected. Halloween, Day of the Dead, and Christmas were holiday favorites for parties and she went nuts with the decorations. Donna enjoyed singing as well as dancing and again, the passion started as a small child. She admitted, once or twice, of being jealous when her sister got to take the dance lessons and she didn't! As an adult she participated in square dancing, ballroom dancing, and even tap dancing. She was always ready for a game of cards and had a special soft spot for teaching her youngest grandson how to play (and win) Hearts. She had a quirky sense of humor that most times you just didn't see coming but made you laugh that much harder.

Donna is survived by her her sister Paula S Lee and her brother in law David T Lee and their many children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She is also survived by her son Douglas Coellen, her daughter Cindy Stein, and Cindy's three children Jacob, Jocelyn, and Jackson.