A funeral Mass for Donna Mae Hilbert will be held Thursday, October 3, 2024, at 10:30 AM at Divine Mercy Parish ~ St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona. Burial will in St. Benedict Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7:30 PM Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at the Bishop Garrigan Chapel with a C.D. of A Rosary beginning at 4:45 PM. Donna died Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Friendship Haven, Fort Dodge, at the age of 89.
Donna Mae Bormann made her entrance into the world along with her twin brother, Donald Ray, on December 31, 1934. Donna and Don were born to Peter and Amanda (Reding) Bormann, at home, on the Peter C Bormann farm. Donna attended and graduated Valedictorian of her class from St Joseph’s Catholic School in St Joseph, Iowa.
On January 4, 1955, Donna was united in marriage to Gordon Hilbert, son of Frank and Francis (Geisicker) Hilbert at St Joseph’s Catholic Church. Gordon and Donna started their life together on a farm near Corwith, Iowa and spent most all of their lives together there where they raised 6 children, Sandy (Tom Davis) of Des Moines, Dean (Donna) Hilbert of Lu Verne, Steve (Mary) Hilbert of Livermore, Mary (Jeff Tolke) of Eagan, MN, Dan (Karyn) Hilbert of Corwith, and Barney (Rita) Hilbert of Ankeny.
Donna’s greatest loves in life were her faith, Gordon, and her children. Donna was a calm but firm influence on Gordon and together they raised their children, row crops, cattle, hogs, and a large garden. Donna and Gordon were blessed to celebrate their 50th anniversary in January, 2005, with many friends, their family, and their 14 grandchildren.
While Gordon and Donna never moved off the farm, they did become “snowbirds” traveling in their RV with the Midwest Pace Arrow club. Together they saw many places, had many adventures and met new friends across North America. They even held motor home rallies on the farm, hosting fellow campers from all over the country and sharing their family and way of life.
After Gordon passed in 2007, Donna moved into town and stayed busy attending grandkids activities, participating in the St. Benedict Guild, holding district and state leadership positions with the Catholic Daughters of America, and regularly playing cards with ladies from St. Benedict.
Donna loved a house full of family and hosted holiday gatherings well into her 80’s. There were always card games, laughter, Easter Egg hunts, lots of pumpkin pie, and gifts for everyone under the tree at Christmas.
She leaves behind loving memories with her 6 children and their families including 14 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Joann Bormann of Livermore; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband on September 3, 2007; her parents; two brothers, Donald Bormann and Howard (Donna Rae) Bormann; a brother-in-law, Jim Hilbert; and a sister-in-law. Catherine (Jerry) Krischel.
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