Donna Mae Jackson-Hein
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Donna Mae (Ekelund) Jackson-Hein
September 20, 1942 until October 8, 2022
Daughter - Wife - Mother - Sister - Grandma - Aunt - Niece - Cousin - Friend
Donna passed suddenly and peacefully from this life into the next, in her beloved home on the banks of Big Sandy River in McGregor, Minnesota. She was surrounded in love, doing what she loved.
She is survived by her beloved sister, Darlene (Ekelund) Erickson of McGregor, half-brother Rodger Lee of California; daughter, Anita (Tim); sons, Rick (Chris), Rob (Amanda) and bonus-family stepchildren, Dori, Denny (Jayne), Dana (Jeff), David, Daryl (Norma) and Kris (Jay). Extra sparkle in Donna's eyes were for her cherished grandchildren, bonus-grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Grant, Cole, Brooke, Christina (Randall), Travis (Ella), Jaymie, Jacob, Cody, Makyla (Tanner), Hailey (Mike), Maddy (Nate), Aria, Jayden, Mason and Wyatt. She loved and shared great affection with many, many nieces, nephews and tight-knit cousins. Donna was also further blessed with a special international addition, welcoming Dien Nguyen, into her loving family garden.
She was preceded in glory by her parents, Wally and Edith Ekelund; husband, Jack; husband, Denis; sisters, Bonnie and Barbara; and great-granddaughter, Arabella.
The oldest of four sisters, born in early stages of WW2 in Wallace, Idaho, to Wally and Edith Ekelund. Soon after, the young family would soon come to settle back in the home nestled in the land of woods and water. Her connection to Big Sandy and its' community, were as spiritual as they were physical. With a strong family bond and pride, she embodied the proud attributes of what it meant to be an Ekelund. It is noted that the rough translation of Ekelund, is "Oak Grove." This seems a befitting name, considering the strength, endurance, utility, and beauty of oak itself. The Ekelund's truly are a strong, sturdy grove who proudly share those qualities.
Donna was an unapologetic "country girl," and she was also very much engaged in the world as a compassionate and thoughtful student. Her wisdom, hunger to always be learning and growing, love for all, profound sense of fairness, equality and decency informed her valued opinions.
Donna had three incredible little sisters: Darlene, Barb, and Bonnie. Each one she treasured, and it was an example to all of what it was to love, cherish, and be a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. Each sister were their own unique brand, and Donna relished the individual richness of each one of their lives, had compassion for their struggles, celebrated their triumphs, and shared far more joyful times and laughs than tears, together. These Ekelund girls each persevered through whatever came their way, and grew stronger together through it all. They exemplify sisterhood done well.
Donna married her first love, Jack, in December of 1961. Their young love was full of challenges and victories of all sizes, including becoming a brand new young mother at the age of 20. She was an incredible wife to a great and complex man, and supported his dreams and endeavors wherever it took them. Donna's life flourished as a mom and wife, while holding jobs that included secretary, daycare provider, and insurance office manager. Donna worked hard at all she did - and that dedicated work yielded rewards in all ways. Donna was a "Supermom," even if she didn't realize.
As Donna and Jack's love and union held strong, bolstered even further by the joyful news of their first grandchild on the way, in 1998, she endured the loss of Jack, and faced the uncertainty and heartbreak of being a young widow at the age of 55. Family, and the gift of more grandchildren to come, would help heal her heart - she had God-given talent for being an incredible Grandma, and she made it effortless. They will miss her legendary banana bread, but her recipe remains a treasured legacy. The sweetest secret ingredient of her love, will be substituted with the young bakers' love for HER.
Life takes, and also, life gives. After grieving her tremendous loss, and opening her heart and soul to the goodness she richly deserved, in 2000, she found Denis Hein, whom we fondly deemed, "The boy next door" - as he literally had retired and moved into the home right next door to her own childhood home on the banks of Big Sandy River. And that is where Donna would once again plant roots and call home. Nearly storybook, Denis and Donna, both widowed, married in 2002, and embraced a beautiful new, full, and incredible chapter together with amazing adventures of travel and celebrations near and far. All who knew them, knew their love and admiration for one another was pure - and the real deal.
Sadly, that shared chapter ended when Denis passed in 2017; another great loss for Donna. But just as the steadfast Swede had always done, she mourned deeply, then gave thanks for what she had enjoyed, and did not dwell in what was lost. Once again, she took great loving comfort in the support of family and friends, and after her union with Denis, that group had doubled.
For the last two years, Donna courageously battled a life-threatening health concern. Her daughters and sons played a key role in helping Donna make and get to her appointments, keeping her well-cared for, and to stay healthy and bolstered enough to stay in the fight. In the Spring of 2022, she was granted a well-deserved better-health reprieve, and was very much on the mend, back to independence, and making amazing plans for the future. Making up for lost time, and soaking up all the drops of the life she loved. Sadly, we know all too well, that sometimes life takes a sharp and unexpected left turn, while we are making our plans. Instead, she passed suddenly, without pain or further suffering, with a heart filled with a lifetime of treasured experiences gained and shared with countless amazing people. Make no mistake, shortly before she left us, she had just reached another glorious milestone goal - her 80th birthday - and she reveled in celebrating this special, well-earned? ?birthday with her family and friends.
Among a long list of many, she especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends, reading, playing a competitive game of 500 or cribbage, fishing on the lake, music and live performance, movies, the north shore of Lake Superior, closely following local and world events, sending notes to others to brighten their day, fresh flowers, keeping in touch on Facebook, traveling and exploring the country in their camper, as many sparkly earrings as she could possibly own, Wheel of Fortune, Judge Judy, The Great British Bake Off, King of Queens, a hot cup of morning coffee, tacos, shrimp, anything chocolate, Dilly Bars, a good burger, and pastries. All the pastries. (She had a great sensor of humor, so I know she'd appreciate that mention J)
So many, in addition to her immediate family, all shared an important part of the fabric of her life's comforting quilt; friends she adored, nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins, aunts, uncles. She loved deeply and was loved back equally and more, by all she held dear - and she would also say she was very much better for the gift of you, in her world. Of special note and thank you, we would like to recognize the caring, incredible staff of nurses in the Riverwood Healthcare Center Infusion/Transfusion department. They truly do God's work - and with their kind and compassionate care, made her life easier and as comfortable as possible through a very difficult and taxing time. She was blessed to have you on her side.
To those of us here who carry on with this temporary and fleeting earthly experience, we say "Goodbye, and farewell." In heaven, they said, "Hello sweet Donna, welcome - come on in!"
Donna, we will carry you in our minds, bodies, and spirits. We celebrate your life, beautiful soul, generous love, and so many gifts and shared lessons. We carry all these blessings as valuable comfort and peace. Until we get there, please save us all a seat, bake your best banana bread, grab a drink, shuffle the cards, and deal us in when we arrive. With deep gratitude, we thank you for sharing your time here with all of us.
In lieu of flowers or family memorials, in the continued spirit of your generosity, it is preferred to please direct contributions to ANGELS of McGregor Address: 7 South Maddy Street, McGregor, MN 55760 www.angelsofmcgregor.com - a longstanding and hard-working community volunteer senior outreach and assistance program, serving the local community.
Memorial services for Donna will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, McGregor, on Saturday, October 29th. Visitation gathering at 10am, services at 11am, closing with interment at Pine Needle Cemetery (Behind Grace Lutheran Church); luncheon, and fellowship to follow.
To sign the guestbook online, please go to: www.srtfuneral.com Arrangements are with McGregor Funeral Home and Cremation Service, McGregor.