(From Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home)Donna Dea Willier, 76, passed peacefully at home surrounded by family. She was born February 16, 1947, in Ottumwa, Iowa to George and Marjorie Snelling Post from the Floris, Iowa area.
Donna started her nursing career at David Herman Nursing Home while living in Minneapolis after graduating from Davis County High School in Bloomfield, Iowa. There she met and married Herman Heifort and opened her heart and home to his four children from his first marriage. Together they had three daughters for a total of 7 children.
When their marriage ended, she loved his four children and could not part with them or separate them from their siblings, so she fought to remain their mother and was given custody of all seven children she proudly presented as her own.
In 1973 she bought her first home in Pulaski, Iowa, and raised her children there while she continued nursing at the Bloomfield Manor. Serving as a Sieda ambassador and a board member for several years, she advocated for Sieda Headstart in Iowa and the Midwest. Her children and many neighborhood kids loved her Pulaski home. She instilled her love of adventure and travel by packing them in the old station wagon with coolers and camping equipment for annual vacations and trips to Grandma Heifort’s house. Nothing was more important to her than family, and as a blended family, she wanted all her children to feel connected with who they came from.
Donna met Allen Willier in 1976 and later they married. Together they formed a family of 11 and lived in Pulaski until 1981, when they moved to an acreage near Mars Hill Church. She graduated from the IHCC with her nursing license that same year and then worked at Sunnyslope Care Center for the next 12 years, where she met many lifelong friends.
In 1973 she bought her first home in Pulaski, Iowa, and raised her children there while she continued nursing at the Bloomfield Manor. Serving as a Sieda ambassador and a board member for several years, she advocated for Sieda Headstart in Iowa and the Midwest. Her children and many neighborhood kids loved her Pulaski home. She instilled her love of adventure and travel by packing them in the old station wagon with coolers and camping equipment for annual vacations and trips to Grandma Heifort’s house. Nothing was more important to her than family, and as a blended family, she wanted all her children to feel connected with who they came from.
Donna met Allen Willier in 1976 and later they married. Together they formed a family of 11 and lived in Pulaski until 1981, when they moved to an acreage near Mars Hill Church. She graduated from the IHCC with her nursing license that same year and then worked at Sunnyslope Care Center for the next 12 years, where she met many lifelong friends.
She and Allen moved to Sarcoxie, Missouri, in 1995, where she worked at the Sarcoxie Nursing Center until she retired in 2012. After retirement, Donna enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends, reading mysteries, creating floral arrangements for the weddings of many of her grandchildren, visiting neighboring towns to see Christmas lights, baking, and participating in family gatherings. She loved to hear all the voices of her family around her. She had a good life and created a lot of love in this life.
Donna is survived by her husband, Allen; 5 sons, James (Kim) Heifort Ottumwa, IA, Tim Heifort Ottumwa, IA, Jeff (Lori) Heifort Ottumwa, IA, Mike (Amber) Willier Anderson, SC, and Guy (Heather) Willier Alma, KS: 3 daughters Jennifer (Gary) Townsend Des Moines, IA, Dawn (Garry) Heifort Willier State Center, IA, Amanda (Phil) LeGrande Agency, IA; “her tenth child” she claimed Dawn (Daryl) Howard Williams Lucas, IA; 32 grandchildren - 16 grandsons and 16 granddaughters; 26 great-grandchildren; one brother Benjamin (Eileen) Post of Ottumwa, IA; one sister Cheryl (Mike) Hegge Superior, WI; one sister-in-law Pauline (George) Post Ottumwa, IA; and many nieces and nephews whom she held dear.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Robert Post and George Post; daughter Ronda Heifort Boas; daughter-in-law Emily (Mike) Willier; and grandson Duane Heifort.
A celebration of life will be held at Agency Community Center on September 2nd from 2 to 5. Memorials may be made to Blessings Soup Kitchen in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Cremation arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home in Sarcoxie, Missouri.
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