Memorial

Donna Knutson, 89, of Cedar Rapids, passed away after a brief illness on Saturday, January 10, 2015 in Hospice of Mercy care at MethWick’s Woodlands facility. Services will be held at Lovely Lane Methodist Church, 2424 42nd Street NE on Saturday, January 17th at 1:00 P.M. with the Rev. Paul Wilcox presiding.

Born December 31, 1925 in Wichita, KS, Donna was the daughter of the Rev. Virgil and Hazel Grant. She grew up and attended schools in eastern Iowa where her father served Methodist churches. After high school, Donna enrolled at Cornell College where she earned a B.A. in sociology. She later received a master’s degree in education at Northern Colorado University in Greeley.

Donna Grant started teaching school in Newell, IA and met Harold Schreiber, a colleague who was to become her husband in 1956. They moved to Cedar Rapids in 1958 for Harold’s position as a math teacher in the school system, finishing at Kennedy High School until his death in 1975 after an extended illness. Meanwhile, Donna, after working at Iowa Electric Light and Power, renewed her certification and returned to teaching at Harding Junior High in 1968.

She married the widowed Dr. Howard Knutson in 1977 and moved to Cedar Falls until Howard’s retirement from UNI in 1981. For the next twenty-three years Donna and Howard lived in their beloved Arkansas, mostly in Cherokee Village, and briefly in Little Rock before moving back to Cedar Rapids to be near family in 2004. Until Howard’s death in 2006, they had enjoyed traveling together during retirement to such places as Australia, France, and Norway, some involving Earthwatch research projects.

As a member of Lovely Lane Methodist Church, Donna applied herself to many beneficial activities. She volunteered in hospital auxiliary, Hospice of Mercy, and Meals-On-Wheels. Donna’s ready smile, easy laugh, and caring disposition endeared her to her extensive family and forged many friendships wherever she went and in PEO. She was known by most of the MethWick community for her upbeat demeanor and getting involved in helpful pursuits, such as being a “Redcap” that gave residents rides around the campus when needed. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Donna was honored to accept a Lifetime Volunteer Award by the American Lung Association of Arkansas. She also chaired the Committee of 100 which supported the Ozark Folk Center, and was instrumental in developing its herb program.

She is survived by Howard’s children, Kristin, (Tom Fiuty) of Lake Geneva, WI; Karl Knutson (Patti) of Cedar Rapids; Kathie (Kevin Hovick) of Clive, IA; grandchildren Kristi (Sean O’Neill) of Willmette, IL, Peter Knutson (Yasmin) of Dubuque; Ilia Fiuty of Lake Geneva, WI; Mary Hovick of Des Moines; Michael Hovick of New York; and six great grandchildren: Aidan, Declan, Ronan, Conor, Noah, and Magdalena.

Donna had a close and special relationship with great-nephew and wife Fran and Cheryl Moe of Cedar Rapids. She is also survived by nieces Carolyn (Mike Gminski) of St. Charles, IL; Elaine Watson of Hewitt, NJ; and cousins Stanley and Bob Grant, and a wonderful family of nephews and nieces from both the Schreiber and Knutson families.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, sister Dorothy, two husbands, and niece, Donna Bell.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hospice of Mercy of Cedar Rapids, the MethWick Foundation, or Lovely Lane United Methodist Church. After the service, a reception will be held at Lovely Lane to remember Donna’s full and generous life.