VaDonna C. Dohrmann, Salina
August 11, 935 - February 5, 2021
VaDonna C. Hansen Dohrmann was born in Hampton, Iowa, on August 11, 1935, and she was embraced by her Savior, Jesus Christ, on February 5, 2021, in the presence of her three children. VaDonna grew up in Coulter, Iowa, in a loving family that included her parents Einer and Edal and her younger sister Sonja. As a child she suffered from a battle with rheumatic fever, but she proved to everyone what a spunky fighter she was and would be her entire life. VaDonna was a full blooded Danish gal and she had the beautiful blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes to prove it. She attended high school at Franklin High, and that is where her sparkling blue eyes reeled in her husband of 64 years, Kenneth D. Dohrmann, who grew up in the small town of Latimer, Iowa. VaDonna and Kenny were married in 1955, after Kenny returned home from his service to his nation in the army. They moved to Mason City, Iowa, where Kenny worked as a bookkeeper. They welcomed their first son, David, in 1956, followed by another son, Lowell, in 1958, and their family was completed with a daughter, Renella, who was born in 1961. The family remained in Mason City until Kenny was offered a promotion to work with International Harvester in Kansas City, Kansas, in 1973. It was not an easy move for any of them as they were leaving behind all of their family members on both sides of the family, but it was a wonderful opportunity that the family just couldn’t turn down. Their stay in Kansas City was brief, however, as Kenny was soon offered the chance to become a partner in the Stewart International Harvester Dealership in Salina, Ks. VaDonna agreed once again to pack up the family and move on to what she hoped would be the best choice for her family. VaDonna began working as a secretary for the Salina school district at a Special Education Center where she formed life-long friendships with her colleagues and the students. She worked for the district for 27 years, choosing to retire in 1994, so she and Kenny could do some serious traveling. They took a cruise or two, went on bus tours to various destinations, and spent their winters in Harlingen, Texas, for several years so they could enjoy golfing and the company of some of their childhood friends from Iowa who also wintered in Texas.
VaDonna enjoyed creating beautiful ceramic pieces which she gifted to her three children and their spouses, and eventually to her 10 grandchildren and as of now, 18 great grandchildren. She LOVED her family dearly, and she and Kenny always made holiday dinners and family gatherings a special time filled with good food, matching clothes for the grandkids, and countless memories that will continue to make her kids and grandkids SMILE whenever they think of her.
And what made VaDonna smile? She treasured the time spent with her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids, and she enjoyed an occasional trip to the casino and hearing that winning “BUFFALO” sound from her favorite slot machine. She was a true competitor when she was playing cards, dominos, or any game that she played.
Kenny and VaDonna were very active members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Salina, Kansas, and their deep faith in the Holy Trinity guided and upheld them through all the ups and downs of life, especially when Kenny was diagnosed with cancer in October of 2019 and passed away in December of 2019. VaDonna remained very active until the last week of her life here on Earth, when her Savior let her know it was almost time to come home.
As VaDonna lay taking her last breaths here on Earth, her great grandson Noah Joshua Dohrmann was taking his first breaths on Earth. VaDonna, and GOD, were just reminding us all of HIS Circle of Life, and when our race is run, it’s time to cross the finish line.
VaDonna was preceded in death by her parents Einer and Edal Hansen, and her husband Kenneth Dohrmann. She will be dearly missed by her sister Sonja Penaluna and her husband Tom, her nieces Jill Rhiner Jodie Kohlsmith and their families, her late nephew Todd Penaluna, her children Dave and Lori Dohrmann of Marion, IA, Lowell and Cheri Dohrmann of Medicine Lodge, KS, and Renella and Brent Sherwood or Falun, Kansas. She will always be remembered as a “cool” grandma and great grandma by her grandchildren Sarah and Brian Jaeger, Brendan and Sidney, Ashley and Kyle Ransom, Charlotte and Audrey, Josh and Hayley Dohrmann, Daphne and Noah, Jay and Dakota Dohrmann, Kroy and sibling due in August, Julie and Brandon Warner, Kaylee, Brooklyn, Landry, and Charlie Jo, Judd and Brianne Dohrmann, Jax and Jett, Joe and Danielle Dohrmann, Whitten and sibling due in August, Jenny Sherwood, Jason and Hayley Sherwood, Jaylon and Layton, and Jordan and Adam Schneck. Special family friends are Mark and Sue Estep and Ike, Michelle and Aaron Shellhammer, Logan, Micah, Trey, and Kyle, and the late Nathan Estep.