The Life of DONNA JEAN EMMONS
Donna J. Emmons, of West Des Moines, passed away Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at the Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center. Born July 5, 1925 in Waterloo, Iowa to Forrest G. and Nell L. (Woodrum) Emmons, Donna was an only child. She graduated from Des Moines North High School, received a BME degree from Drake University in 1947 and a MME degree in 1948. Prior to teaching in Des Moines she taught vocal music in Algona, Iowa and Alta, Iowa. Her first teaching assignment in Des Moines was Benjamin Franklin Junior High. She resigned that position to join the U. S. State Department with Foreign Service assignments at the Consulate General in Zurich, Switzerland and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Teaching was never far from her heart so after eight years of serving abroad, she returned to Des Moines to resume teaching vocal music at her high school alma mater, North High. She later transferred to and retired from Herbert Hoover High School after a total of thirty-two years of teaching vocal music.
Upon retirement, she became a member of the Des Moines Women's Club and served twice as Club President. There she stayed active in music by forming a women's chorus that performed for club events. She was an active member of Sigma Alpha Iota for over sixty years, Treble Clef Music Club, and PEO Chapter EH as well as Des Moines Women's Club. Through the years she directed choirs in many Des Moines churches and sang in various church choirs.
Music was a great love but traveling was a close second. With many trips to Europe and Hawaii, and cruises with ports on the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Caribbean, the Baltic, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, a suitcase was always ready to go. Her biggest adventure has now begun.
She was preceded in death by her parents. Surviving are cousins Delores Harris of Toledo, Iowa; Judith (Robert) Pieper of Burbank, CA; Dan (Sharon) McMillan of Port Townsend, WA; Mike (Carol) McMillan of Placentia, CA; Sharon (Mike) Rice of Canyon Lake, CA and many friends.
Services will be held at Westover Funeral Home on Friday, August 6th at 10:00 AM. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Des Moines Women's Club at Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309.
