Donna Katherine Ahle
Wednesday, March 5, 1947
Date of Death:
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Age:
74 years old
Visitation
Date: Friday September 10, 2021
Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]
Second Visitation
Date: Saturday September 11, 2021
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Location: Holy Spirit Catholic Church [ view map ]
Memorial Mass
Date: Saturday September 11, 2021
Time: 1:00 pm
Location: Holy Spirit Catholic Church [ view map ]
Livestreaming Information
https://youtu.be/FD0v-7enEvk
Wednesday, March 5, 1947
Date of Death:
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Age:
74 years old
Wednesday, March 5, 1947
Date of Death:
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Age:
74 years old
Donna Katherine Ahle
Donna K. Ahle, a beloved daughter, partner, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away on August 26, 2021, after unexpected medical complications, surrounded by loved ones at Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.
Donna was born in Rochester in 1947. Her early years involved relocations to and from air force bases in Germany, New York, Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Japan, and Kansas, with the family eventually returning to Rochester in 1962. She graduated from Lourdes High School in 1965.
As the second oldest of eight children, Donna was a caretaker of her family and friends by nature and, later, by training, as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Donna graduated from St. Mary’s School of Practical Nursing in 1966 and worked for 39 years at Mayo, first in 3DU, the Cardiac ICU, and then the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. She especially loved working with her pediatric patients in Cardiac ICU.
Donna enjoyed a relationship of 28 years with her significant other, Jim Duffney, and the two shared homes and lives in Rochester and Surprise, Arizona, as well as the pastimes of photography, golfing, dinner parties with family and friends, and movie group. Donna and Jim would often take the long way home on their travels from Arizona, in adventures that were joined by her sister, Jennie, and Jennie’s husband, Ron. Donna traveled the world extensively from a young age, and her interest in visiting distant places never waned. She and Jim explored New Zealand and Australia together, along with Italy and a river cruise on the Rhine. Donna loved traveling to Hawaii to spend time and visit friends.
Donna will be remembered for her firm hug, soft smile, mischievous brown eyes, and big heart. To know her was to love her, and she was generous with her time and energy, always lending a hand to friends and family in whatever way she could. She enjoyed gifting her mom, sisters and sisters-in-law, nieces, grandnieces and friends with hand-beaded jewelry and sun catchers lovingly made and re-made until the beading was just right. Donna was a skilled cook, capable of recreating intricate dishes from magazine spreads down to the smallest detail, often calling or texting several times after sharing a recipe to mention unwritten ingredients or to comment on how to achieve the best results. Donna was rarely without a camera in her hands, documenting a life well-lived: catching a cactus blooming in the Arizona desert, recording her grandnieces or nephews being silly, and capturing both big and small occasions with the loved ones she cherished, all of whom already miss her dearly.
Donna is preceded in death by her father, Donald Ahle, and sister, Mary Elizabeth (Betsy) Ahle. She is survived by her significant other, Jim Duffney (Surprise, AZ); mother, Elizabeth (Wegman) Ahle (Rochester, MN); brothers, Michael Ahle (Patti) (Roseville, CA), Tom Ahle (Ashland, OR), John Ahle (Cherrie) (Rochester, MN), and Mark Ahle (Kris Stadheim) (Rochester, MN); sisters, Jennie Cropp (Ron) (Rochester, MN) and Joan Blom (Gary) (St. Paul, MN); and twenty-eight nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
The family would like to thank 8 Mary Brigh D Neuro ICU and Eisenberg 8th Floor, Palliative Care Unit for their exceptional care.
A Memorial Mass will be held Saturday, September 11, 2021, at 1:00 PM at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Rochester. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 10, from 5 – 7pm in River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home, and for one hour prior to the service at the church.
Memorials are preferred to the Mayo Clinic Poverello Fund or Mayo Clinic Research.
Condolences
The family of Donna Katherine Ahle has received the following condolences.
Donna, will always remember you and love our memories of you! Rest in peace, till we meet again!
Donna scared the living daylights out of me when I started in the PACU! She was so skilled, smart and quick to pick up on any changes in her patients. How on earth could I ever become a fraction of her excellence? But hands down, she was the best preceptor I ever had! I learned so much from Donna about assessing patient, about communicating...DIRECTLY...with doctors and managing four patients, at once, in the PACU. I appreciated Donna's compassion towards her career, her strong work ethic and her witty humor! How I miss that smile of hers.
Donna was a gift to all who knew her. My deepest condolences to Jim, the Ahle family and all who grieve Donna's death. She was an amazing woman! And as we miss her terribly, here on earth, I know she's in Heaven, 'tidying up', making sure it is all perfect for when we all get to see again.
Peace to all who love Donna...
Melissa Brudwick
Uncle Jim, my condolences on the passing of Donna. I truly enjoyed the times at family get-togethers and chatting with her. My thoughts are with you during this time.
Jeff, Lennin and Quinn Duffney
I'm thankful for all the years that I had the privilege of knowing you as my sister in law and my friend. I miss you twrr, but know we will see each other again. Love you Donna.
So very sad to hear of Donna's death. She was such a bright, caring and fun gal. We were room mates in Mankato when she worked there. She gave so much in what seems all too short a life. Prayers for all of her family and those who miss will her presence in their lives.
Pat Donovan Lounsbury
To Jim and the Ahle Family, all of you are in our prayers. My husband Joe and I only met Donna once at a family wedding but have gotten to know her better through my sister, Patti Ahle. Donna even made a sun catcher for me which I still have! She was a special person, and our hearts go out to Jim and the entire family. Our love to all of you. Vicki and Joe Angus, Oklahoma City, OK.
I am so sad to hear of Donna's passing! We were classmates in nurses training and it was awesome getting to know her. She made made that stressful year much easier and even fun! We kept in touch, mostly postcards (WOW! Donna had her hair styled in PARIS!), letters and too infrequent visits. Class reunions were a great time to get together. I was so happy to see Donna at our 50th nursing class reunion! she was beautiful and fun as ever! She gave me one of her beautiful suncatchers.....which I'll now treasure even more! Time spent with Donna was always a good time! Mrs.Ahle, Jim, Family, Friends and Classmates.....my prayer for us all is that sorrow soon turn into memories of Donna. Memories that make us smile.....maybe even laugh! God Bless, P.Moore
love you forever
I worked with Donna in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit at St. Mary’s and have many fond memories of her. My deepest sympathy to her family and loved ones on her passing. Joyce Dickman
To the Ahle family and Donna's significant other Jim, I offer my sympathy and prayers. Donna led a full and interesting life that ended too soon. May God welcome her home. Gloria Hostak
Donna was a beautiful person. Her wisdom, sense of humor and kindness to others has always stayed with me and will always be with me. I can never think of her without a smile and a thankfulness that I was able to know her, learn from her, and adore her. My deepest sympathy to all the Ahle family and those who loved her so deeply.
Mrs Ahle, our deepest sympathy at the passing of Donna. Our prayers and thoughts will be with you and your family. God bless you.
Mike and Mary Wenzel
To Betty and Family
Condolences on death of your daughter.
Hugs and prayers to you
Judy Goodman
God has taken a good person home. We have not see Donna in a very long time but do have fun memories of parties & events at the Traverski Club in the early 1970's. Hugs & prayers from us.
I remember growing up with The Cropp’s and whenever Donna would visit I was always greeted with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. She was always so kind, loving, and so beautiful. She will be missed dearly and will cherish the memories I have of her.
XO- Sarah