Donna Rae Moran, passed away peacefully at the age of 85, at the Gordon Countryside Care. Donna was a compassionate soul and dedicated nurse, who devoted her life to healing and caring for others, leaving an indelible mark on countless lives.
Born on May 24th, 1938 in Hastings, Nebraska to Edward D. and Margaret L. (Zobel) Wilken, Donna’s journey in nursing began with a profound sense of empathy and a commitment to making a difference when she attended, and graduated from, the Mary Lanning School of Nursing in Hastings.
She met Richard C. Moran while in nursing school they married on October 10th, 1959. Richard and Donna would eventually have four children, Michael Jon, Marcia Kay, Michelle Lea, and Melanie Ann.
After her graduation from nursing school, she was employed at the Hastings Regional Center (formerly known as Ingleside Hospital) and then as a clinic nurse in Emporia Kansas before moving to Gordon, NE in 1968. While living in Gordon, Donna took on odd jobs in the evenings to supplement the household income by washing uniforms for the meat packing plant and cleaning up at the laundromat, until eventually returning to the field of nursing by working for Gordon Memorial Hospital. During Donna’s employment at GMH, she handled post-anesthesia care unit nursing, worked with assisting to set up cardiac rehabilitation and was instrumental in the initiation of home health and homemakers at GMH. Donna’s nursing skills were matched only by her kindness, and her patients remember her not just for her expertise but for the warmth and compassion she brought to their care.
Donna was an energetic, fun-loving personality who enjoyed family, playing games and dancing to her favorite music - if it was a hit from her high school days, a jocular tune of Ray Stevens, or one of her grandchildren’s favorite tunes, she loved them all. In her later years, Donna had this ability to win over all who cared for her and left them with a lasting impression - with her fun loving remarks and goofy antics. She was a true joy to be around and will be greatly missed.
She is preceded in death by her mother and father, her husband Richard and her daughter Marcia and her husband Jim Elder.
She leaves behind her brother Gary and his wife Debra Wilken of Lincoln, NE, son Michael and wife Wendy of Omaha, NE, and two daughters, Michelle Bruns and husband Craig of Whiteclay, NE and Melanie Paul and husband Ryan of Gordon, NE. Her grandchildren: Erin Moran of Omaha, NE, Amy Moran of Omaha, NE, Eric and wife Samantha Elder of Kearney, NE, Haley Elder of Midvale, UT, Michael Ireson of Scottsbluff, NE, Jacqueline and her husband Matt Hockley of Rapid City, SD, Cassidy Bruns of Clovis, NM, Abigail Bruns, of Whiteclay, NE, Paige and husband Jace Stumpff of Gordon, NE, and Ryder Paul of Gordon, NE. One great-granddaughter Hazel Hockley of Rapid City, SD.
Services will be held at the Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home on October 27th, 2023, 10:00 AM. Inurnment will be at the Gordon Cemetery.