Donna Mae Hrubes

Donna Mae (Bleich) Hrubes, 74 years old, was born March 8, 1940 in Algona, IA, and was the eldest daughter of Frank and Minnie Bleich. She was baptized at St. Joseph's Catholic Church and grew up in Wesley, IA. No stranger to challenges in her life, she was rescued with her mother and sister from a house fire when she was 4 and survived polio when she was 6 and went on to finish first grade with her class. She was a tomboy who played sports outside until it was dark and she got called home. She became a junior lifeguard at the age of 12 and eventually managed the Wesley Pool for years. She played basketball in high school and won a free throw contest by sinking 23 of 25 free throws at Corwith. She graduated in 1958 from Wesley High School and was the last class to graduate from that school. Donna was the first in her family to attend college and worked her way through college and graduated with a degree in business education in 1962 from the State College of Iowa (now the University of Northern Iowa). She taught school in Anita, IA; Forest City, IA, and Kalona, Illinois where she taught with her best friend Carol Harshbarger. She was introduced to Camp Hantesa through Carol and became a lifeguard and waterfront director at Camp Hantesa, Boone, IA. She earned the highest camp craft honor Vagabond at Camp Hantesa in 1961. She traveled with her friends out west after camp and had the pith helmet and rodeo memories to show for it. Donna graduated with her master's degree in counseling at Drake University and her thesis was accepted without correction in the summer of 1969. She married Donald Hrubes on August 11, 1969, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Wesley, IA, and worked as a guidance counselor for Spencer Community Schools that fall. Many times, she quietly advocated 'for the kids' at school. She was a working mother when that was not common and partnered with her husband to raise their three children: Debbie, Diane and Daniel. She was a middle school and high school guidance counselor in Spencer, IA, for 35 years. She retired from the school district in 2003 and focused her energies at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and School, Meals on Wheels and Birthright until her grandson Curt was born. She lavished her love and attention on him full-time as his caregiver with 'Pa' while his mother Diane taught school. She and her husband enjoyed traveling and visited many sights but none as dear as her Minnesota lakes. She loved to play golf, visiting Ottertail Lake in Minnesota, and fishing. She spent numerous June days in Canada fishing with her friends and family. The most important things in her life were her family, her friends and her faith. She was a lifelong Catholic and sent all her children to Sacred Heart School and is currently sponsoring her grandson Eli's education at St. Francis Catholic School, West Des Moines, IA. She filled all their lives with love and laughter. She firmly believed in service and lectored for years at church and volunteered in countless ways. She was a Catholic Daughter and was a past president. She died July 26th, 2014 at her home in Spencer surrounded by family. She is survived and missed by her husband of 44 years, Don; daughters Debbie (Alan) Hummel of West Des Moines, and Diane (Patrick) Rohan of Ruthven and son Daniel Hrubes of Spencer; grandsons Elijah Hummel and Curt Rohan; brother Dick (Judy) Bleich, brother-in-law Vern Olson and sister-in-laws Rosemary Bleich and Sr. Janet Hrubes; an aunt, numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents, sister Margaret Olson and brother Bob Bleich.

SERVICES

OFFICIATING

CASKET BEARERS

VISITATION

MUSIC

INTERMENT