Obituary of Donna Tiedemann

Memorial Tribute Donna Jeanne (Philiph) Tiedemann was the surprise third addition to the Arthur and Wilhelmina (Miegel) Philiph family; born on October 6, 1941 in rural Osceola County near May City, IA. She was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in May City, where she was a lifelong member. She was an active Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher and participated in LWML for several years. She attended rural Harrison Township country school through the 8th grade, and then completed her high school education at Hartley High School in Hartley, IA. Donna’s high school interests included drama club, speech, choir, softball, and basketball. After completing high school, she married Wilmer Edwin Tiedemann on June 7, 1959 in May City. By this union they were blessed with five children. Wilmer and Donna began farming near Milford, IA and then moved to Hull, IA for several years. Eventually, they moved back to Donna’s family farm near May City where Wilmer continues to farm. Their crop farming included dairy cattle, feeder cattle and hogs, bottle calves and farrowing hogs. In addition to all these responsibilities, Donna enjoyed raising flocks of chickens, ducks, geese, guineas, and turkeys which she custom cleaned and sold. Along with poultry, bottle lambs were rescued from a local feedlot and raised as feeders. In her spare time, Donna enjoyed horse riding; even broke several young horses to be ridden by her children. She also found time, and joy, in growing a garden, and could feed her family throughout the winter with vegetables grown on the family farm. Her family wore clothing and slept on sheets sewn from cloth feed sacks. Her joy of sewing gradually led her to construct beautiful quilts for babies and newlyweds. In 1992, Donna decided to follow her lifelong dream and became a Certified Nursing Assistant. After one year of employment, she decided to further her education and went to school to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. Donna worked as an LPN at the Worthington Regional Hospital in Worthington, MN from 1995-2007; retiring due to health related issues. Donna never lacked ambition. Her true love was working outdoors, and she could turn any mundane task into a satisfying accomplishment. Donna is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Delores; and two early pregnancies. Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Wilmer; her five adult children: Kathi (Gary) Noble of May City, IA, Bruce (Tiffany) of Earlham, IA, Brian (Vicky) of Charles City, IA, Brent of Spirit Lake, IA and Karla (Keith) Schnurr of May City, IA; 13 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; one sister, Lorraine of Livermore, CA; sisters and bothers-in-law; five foster children; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A Celebration of Life Donna J. Tiedemann Born ~ October 6, 1941 Died ~ March 28, 2016 Age ~ 74 years 5 months 22 days Funeral Service Friday, April 1, 2016 ~ 10:30 a.m. St. John’s Lutheran Church May City, Iowa Officiating ~ Pastor Neil Wehmas Organist ~ Luella Heilman Congregational Singing Processional ~ “Just As I Am” #570 "I'm But A Stranger Here" #748 "The Old Rugged Cross" (insert) Recessional ~ “Amazing Grace” #744 Pallbearers Jason Noble Ryan Noble Joshua Noble Mark Tiedemann Benjamin Tiedemann Kaleb Schnurr Honorary Pallbearers Blaine Tiedemann Kolton Schnurr Kassandra Schnurr Kourtney Schnurr Tayler Tiedemann Samantha Tiedemann Madison Tiedemann Ushers Don Rasmussen ~ Bob Rusche Interment Harrison Township Cemetery May City, Iowa <iframe id="tukios_player_512x330" allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="330" scrolling="no" src="https://www.tributeslides.com/videos/embedded_video/YSG78HC5PYM8RRCX" width="512"></iframe>