Donna Rae Kay

Donna Rae Kay, 87 of Sioux City passed away Monday, April 10, 2023. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Monday, April 17, 2023 at Morningside Lutheran Church. Visitation will be Sunday, April 16, 2023 from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 6:00 P.M. all held at the church. Burial will be at a later date. 

Donna was born in Le Mars, Iowa on February 6, 1936. She was the only child of Vernon and Elsie (Johnson) Green. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. The family moved to Holstein in 1941 where she lived until 1955. She graduated from Holstein High School in 1954, where she participated in Home Ec, cheerleading, was pianist for vocal groups, and editor for the school annual. On September 19, 1954 she was married to her high school sweetheart, Alvin Kay, at the United Methodist Church in Holstein. Four children were born to this union. On October 2, 1954, Donna and Alvin moved to Ft. Worth, Texas where he was serving the U.S. Army. They then moved to Omaha where she was employed as a secretary and switchboard operator while Alvin attended business college. In 1960 they moved to Sioux City. Donna was a stay at home mom until she went to work for J.C. Penny from 1975 to 1989. She retired in 1993 after three years with the Board of Realtors office.

Donna enjoyed many hobbies through the years.  She enjoyed sewing play clothes for her kids and evolved into prom and bridesmaid dresses as they grew. She also did some knitting, crocheting, playing bridge, and in earlier years, she and Alvin enjoyed dancing. She liked working crossword puzzles and she loved antiquing and collecting biscuit jars, hat pin holders, and her passion, story book dolls. She also played the piano and ended every practice with the song, “The Old Lamplighter”. As the years have gone on, she and Alvin enjoyed the circle of life that began with each generation in their family from grandchildren to great-grandchildren. Since 1998, Donna and Alvin enjoyed spending winters in Mesa, Arizona and made many special friends during their time there.

She was a member of the Order of Rainbow for Girls and joined the Order of the Eastern Star at age 18. She was also a member of Morningside Lutheran Church for almost 63 years, where she was active in teaching Sunday and Bible schools and served on the Altar Guild.

Donna is survived by her husband of 68 years, Alvin Kay of Sioux City; daughter, Sandy (Robert) Schmeckpeper of Sioux City; son, Kevin Kay of Bronson; grandchildren, Kim (Craig) Hart, Jeff (Ashley) Nylen, Alan (Elisha) Schmeckpeper, and Sara Sangwin; seven great-grandchildren; son-in-law, Mark Dunnington; sister-in-law, Lorraine Kay; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Keith at birth; daughter, Shari Dunnington; and mother and father-in-law, Carl and Paula Kay.