Memorial

Donna Dickinson Adams, a career Cedar Rapids teacher and an active local volunteer, died May 12th in Cedar Rapids at 94.

Memorial services will be 11:00 AM on Friday at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Inurnment in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 5 to 7 PM on Thursday.

Born on the Fourth of July, 1922, in St. Ansgar, Iowa, to Earl and Mae Dickinson, she met her husband-to-be at college.  They married in 1941 and she graduated with a B.S. from Iowa State College (now Iowa State University).   She was awarded her elementary education certificate from Coe College, her Master of Arts degree from the University of Iowa, and went on to teach in the Cedar Rapids school system for 28 years.  

She was involved with the Coe Forum. She enjoyed making quilts for Tanger Place, lap robes for the VA Hospital, reading, and gardening. Donna was an active member of Kenwood Park Methodist Church, Indian Creek Nature Center second grade programs, the Reading is Fundamental program with the Cedar Rapids Public Library, and Headstart.  She delivered Reading is Fundamental books to Headstart and Step Up Kindergarten.

If she could visit with anyone alive or deceased, Donna would choose one of the following: Marie Curie, a great woman scientist, Clarissa Barton, who cared for Civil War wounded, the first person to search for missing in action soldiers, founder of the Red Cross and disaster relief programs, Frances Perkins, who helped establish Social Security, Rosa Parks, who helped awareness of the Civil Rights movement, Eleanor Roosevelt, who encouraged women to use their talents, or any woman who has been lighting the way for our girls. She was a member of Cedar Rapids Retired Teachers, a Past Matron of Malta Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, a member of Daughters of the Nile, and El Kahir Auxiliary. 

She is survived by two children: Gary (Louise) of Kelowna, British Columbia; and Randall (Jaime), of Pasadena, California; two grandchildren: Jenni (Kerry) and Jill; and two great-grandchildren, Sawyer and Shaye.  Other survivors include her sister, Norma Rutz; and her brother, Burton (Pat) Dickinson.  She was preceded in death by her parents (Earl and Mae Dickinson) husband (Leroy), and two brothers (Wayne and Dale).

Donations may be made to the Kenwood Park United Methodist Park Church day care center, and to the University of Iowa literacy scholarship.