Donna Arends, 76, Albert Lea

Published 12:00 am Thursday, November 3, 2005

Funeral services for Donna J. Arends, age 76, of Albert Lea will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005, at the Round Prairie Lutheran Church. Rev. Tammy Dahlvang will officiate. Visitation is 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services at the church.

Donna died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2005, at Methodist Hospital in Rochester.

Donna Jeanne Arends was born Nov. 14, 1928, to Albert and Agnes (Wavrin) Meixner in Owatonna. She grew up in Owatonna and graduated from Owatonna High School. Donna worked at the SCS office in Owatonna, for 3M in Minneapolis, and spent a summer working in Yellowstone National Park. On April 27, 1957, she was united in marriage to Caroll Arends in Owatonna. The couple moved to rural Glenville in 1958 and then to Albert Lea three and a half years ago. Donna was a member of the Round Prairie Lutheran Church, the Tabitha Circle, the Parish prayer group and the church quilting group. She was a former 4-H leader and was an active member of the WFLA lodge in Owatonna. Donna enjoyed sewing, hiking, gardening, traveling, and spending time with her family.

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Survivors include her husband, Caroll of Albert Lea; children, Keith Arends of Tucson, Ariz., and Jodi Arends Wild of Byron; grandchildren, Elizabeth Arends Wild and Katherine Jeanne Wild, both of Byron; brothers, Marvin and wife, Beverly Meixner and Robert and wife, Sharon Meixner, all of Owatonna; and nieces, nephews, and cousins. Honorary grandchildren: Justin Sorum, Summer Sorum, Adam Sorum, Ashley Sorum, Faith Sorum, Steven Lewis, and Kevin Lewis.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents and her daughter, Shelli.