DONNA JEAN DAY

Donna Jean Day, loving wife, mother, and grandmother, of Mapleton, Minnesota, formerly long-time resident of Amboy, Minnesota, passed away on Feb 18, 2020 at the age of 74 shortly after her cancer diagnosis. 

Her funeral will be held Saturday, February 22, 2020 at 11 AM at the First Presbyterian Church in Amboy with Rev. Elaine Boyd officiating. Visitation one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be at a later date at Pleasant View Cemetery in Amboy.  Spencer-Owen Funeral home is entrusted with arrangements. www.SpencerOwen.com

Donna was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on September 19, 1945 to Clair and Ruth (Haan) Dreher.  Following a couple of years at Delta College in Saginaw, Michigan, she married and had two treasured daughters, Ann (Tietjen) Purrington and Pam (Tietjen) Torkelson.  The young family lived in Hopkins, Chippewa Falls, WI, Albert Lea, and moved to Amboy, in 1974. She shared her cooking talents in the community with positions at American Legion and Amboy Good Thunder high school, as well as serving 18 years as the secretary at First Presbyterian Church of Amboy.  She loved volunteering her time with Vine Faith in Action, and Amboy Lions Club.   

While serving food at the AGT high school, she met her true love, Air Force Veteran and high school custodian, Duayne Day.  They were married on December 28, 1985, and she cherished the addition of two loving stepdaughters, Darla Day and Debra (Day) Green, and their families.  Donna enjoyed camping with Duayne, and their favorite times were spent fishing on the lake.  They traveled to many states across the U.S., including a six- week driving trip to Alaska.

Donna loved giving gifts of knitted or crocheted sweaters, blankets, doll clothes and stuffed toys.  These hand-made treasures reflected her extensive creative talents along with the beautiful garments she sewed for her family for all types of events including weddings, Halloween, Christmas stockings, and her grandchildren’s dress-up tea parties.  Her gourmet cooking was enjoyed by her family and friends, using her spices to make her tasty dishes and meals.  Other favorite pastimes included sitting on the deck on a sun‑filled day while watching the birds and ‘naming’ squirrels at her many bird feeders, as well as loving on her cats.  Her strong faith in God gave her strength and guided her throughout her life.

Donna is survived by her husband, her two daughters Ann (Scott) Purrington and Pam (Kurt) Torkelson; two stepdaughters, Darla Day and Debra (Tom) Green; eight grandchildren; six great grandchildren; two sisters, Patricia Baker and Carol Lee Deter; and many members of stepfamily.

She is preceded in death by her parents; step granddaughter, Amy Jo Green; and brother-in-law, Keith Deter.

In lieu of flowers, honoring Donna’s love of animals, memorial donations may be given to the donor’s choice of preferred Lions Club or Humane Society.  The family wishes to thank the Mapleton Community Home and Heritage Place for their kind and loving care.