Donna Waterbury Obituary

DONNA MAE WATERBURY

Donna Mae Waterbury, age 89 of Cherokee, IA, passed away Sunday, July 6, 2025, at Cherokee Regional Medical Center in Cherokee, IA. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 11, 2025, at the Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee, IA. Burial will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cherokee, IA. Visitation with the family present will be 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday night at the Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee, IA. The Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee, IA is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.greenwoodfuneral.com.

On September 30, 1935, in a farm house at East Chain, Minnesota, a baby girl was born to Jens and Esther Irene (Benson) Madsen. They named her Donna Mae. She was baptized and confirmed at the East Chain Lutheran Church.

Donna attended school at East Chain School until 6th grade when the family moved to Swea City. When she started school in Swea City, she met another girl who had just moved there. The girl had the same last name (Madsen – no relation). Donna was 7 days older than Leah. They became very good friends and still are.

After graduation from Swea City School, Donna worked at Eddie's Food for 5 years.

On November 2, 1955, Donna was married to Richard (Dick) Waterbury at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Swea City. Dick was on leave from the Navy. Three days later Dick went back to the Navy and Donna to work. Their wedding day was fast and furious!

Dick and Donna lived in Honolulu, Hawaii; Swea City and Cherokee, Iowa. They moved to Cherokee when Dick became a state trooper for 30 years.

In 1970 they bought an acreage east of Cherokee and raised cattle, sheep, and pigs. Donna attended to baby pigs and saved many at birth.

In 1979, Dick and Donna sold this acreage and moved to 80 acres they had bought in 1973, They raised cattle and crop farmed. Donna was not a tractor person, so she gave Dick some merry rides!

Dick and Donna were animal lovers and had several dogs, cats, and horses. Any dog or cat wandering in found a home with them.

In addition to her long-time friend Leah (Madsen) Milller, Donna leaves behind special friends Clem Shemmel, Dennis Oleson, Joanne Jones, and Sandra Heid.

Donna is survived by her husband; brothers Roger (Donna) of Spirit Lake, Iowa and Dennis (Carol) of Fairmont, Minnesota; sisters-in-law Karen Williamson of Des Moines, Iowa and Delores Waterbury of Fairmont, Minnesota; and 13 nieces and nephews.

Donna was preceded in death by special friends Wayne and Bill Carson. She was also preceded in death by her parents; sister Karen Tarrant; sister-in-law Marilyn Schoon, brothers-in-law Merlin Waterbury and Gary L. "Butch" Waterbury; and nephew Michael Madsen.