This little girl from Kansas has finally clicked her heels and gone home. Donna Almeda Renner Robinson passed away on July 21, 2020, at age 82, surrounded by her loved ones, after a courageous battle with dementia.
Though the yellow brick road wasn’t easy for Donna, the journey was filled with good friends and family, love and service, great food, and the best hugs. She made everyone feel special and beautiful.
Donna was born on September 18, 1937 in Iola, Kansas, to Leo and Helen Renner, the fifth of nine children. At the age of 10, she, along with her family, accepted the gospel and was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Donna was a pioneer who crossed the plains – in a bus, with her family including 7 children and a canary. After much sacrifice, the family was sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple in 1949.
Donna married the love of her life, William Karl Robinson, on December 5, 1957, in the Salt Lake Temple. They enjoyed 62 wonderful years together and were blessed with three daughters, 3 children from Bill’s previous marriage, 21 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Donna lived to give. A hostess to the end, she was ever concerned for the comfort and happiness of others. Her greatest joy was seeing her family have fun.
Donna was a true home cook. Her skills inspired her children and grandchildren to enjoy creating in the kitchen. Dementia took so much from Donna, but she never lost her need to serve. No one will ever forget her kindness, her laugh, or her whistle.
Donna is survived by her husband, Bill; her brother, Perry (Reva) and her daughters, Cindy (William Atkin), Lynda (Michael Patterson), Jill (Phil Pack); Bill’s children Susan Tippets, David Robinson and Alan Robinson. She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings Edith, Roger, Anita, Roberta, Wilbert, Gordon, and Ina.
We honor Dad, who cared for Mom with love and determination. The family also wishes to express our sincere thanks to the many friends that supported Bill in keeping Mom safe, especially the members of their ward in Ivins.
A celebration of Donna’s life will be held on Saturday, July 25th outside at the church house pavilion located at 2522 East 6710 South, Cottonwood Heights, Utah at 10:00 a.m. Those who wish to attend, please bring your own chair, social distance and please wear a mask so that we can celebrate safely. Feel free to bring an umbrella for shade.
Mom, we will miss you. We’re so glad that you are free from pain and fear. We look forward to the day we will see you and hug you again, somewhere over the rainbow.
Dear Uncle Bill, Cindy, Lynda and Jill,
I am so sorry for the passing of
Aunt Donna. She was one of the sweetest, kindest, loving and most beautiful woman ever to come to earth. A wonderful woman I’m sure you will miss but will always remember her with much love ♥️ May you be blessed with peace and comfort at this difficult time. We love you♥️
Love, Kendra Moss
So sorry to hear about your mom
We were so sad to hear our sweet Aunt Donna has passed. We loved her dearly. We enjoyed her great cooking. She would never let anyone do her dishes or clean up after a get together at her house.
She was so fun to visit with and always had such a great sense of humor. We loved her cute laugh. She made us feel special. We will miss her. I’m sure her reunion with her family has been wonderful. Til we meet again. We love you. You’re family is in our prayers.
As a young teenager, I had the privilege of meeting Donna, and since that day, I have found her to be genuine, kind, caring, and the hostess of all hostesses. You always felt welcome in her home. During recent visits, she still had her beautiful smile on her face and a kind word. My heart hearts for her entire family. I pray that Donna's family finds peace and comfort during this tender time.
Dear Robinson Family, my heart aches at this time for you and the loss of sweet Donna. Lynda, I think of you so often and the times that we were like sisters. I love you all so much and hope that you can find peace in the memories of the time you spent with your wife, mother, grandmother. Your family has always had a special place in my families ❤️.
Love, prayers, and (((hugs))).
We love you!!!!
Kathy ( Coons) Stevens and Wally
Sharon and John Coons
Dear Uncle Bill, Cindy, Lynda, Jill and families:
We are so blessed to have known and be blessed from the life and service of Aunt Donna. She is truly an elect lady, a true saint, an amazing mother as evidenced by three remarkable daughters.
We love you all so very much and are and will continue to pray for your comfort and peace and that you will feel your mother's spirit from the other side.
We felt so bad we couldn't be to the service in person, as many of family had covid and we didn't want to pass it on and expose you.
You honored your mom so perfectly from your talks at her service. We will truly miss her and look forward to another time soon when we can see everyone and give you a hug.
With much love,
Dennis, Marilyn and family
I knew Donna when she lived on Lake Street and we belonged to the 31st Ward. We went to Young Women's together and Jr High and High School. I'm afraid I lost track of her after we were married. This is a beautiful picture of her and I thought the obituary write-up was wonderful and I learned something new about her. She was 5th of 9 children and I was 4th of 10 in my family. She was a good friend and I wish I had kept in touch thru the years. I also knew her sister, Roberta. Our best wishes to your family.
Janice Hennefer
I am not much on social media so I just now saw the obituary in Family Search. I loved Aunt Donna so much. She always made me feel special. I thought I would get out again to visit one last time but I see it is too late. Our prayers are with you Uncle Bill and my cousins. What peace comes from our knowledge of the Gospel Plan and that we can all be together again.