Obituary

Donna Marie Wiegel, 66 years old, passed away unexpectedly in her sleep on April 21, 2018 at her home in Chicago, IL. Donna was born in Spencer, IA on April 14, 1952 to Fred and Valborg Nielsen Wiegel and grew up in Des Moines, IA, where she graduated from Hoover High School in 1970. Donna began her collegiate journey at the University of Iowa, completed her undergraduate studies at Drake University, and received her MA from DePaul University in Chicago.

Donna worked for many years at The Second City comedy club in Chicago, where she met an abundance of lifelong friends who became family. Donna then worked in the administrative offices of the Resurrection Lutheran Church, which led to her employment for over 25 years by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. As an event planner for the ELCA, Donna was instrumental in organizing numerous ELCA Youth Gatherings held for 40,000+ youth, and their leaders every three years in numerous U.S. cities.

Donna found joy in the simplicities in life. She adored her dogs, reading her library books, drinking coffee (black only), bicycling, gardening, and relaxing in the sun on the beaches in the Caribbean. Donna was passionate about her daughter, her granddaughters, life, and happiness. She did not preach her moral and religious beliefs, she lived them. She was the angel. Donna was loving and kind to every person she encountered. She was the best, most loyal friend a person could ever have. Donna was a fierce lover of justice and champion of the marginalized. She was a justice seeker, and a positive peacemaker.

Donna was preceded in death by her mother. She is survived by her life companion Jacob Westerman, daughter Tatiana Alexa Wiegel, granddaughters Aiyana Alexa and Briana Alexa. Donna’s father Fred Wiegel of Bella Vista, Arkansas, her sister Kris Chips of Centennial Colorado, her nieces Kelly Chips and Tracy Trowbridge, great niece and nephew, Molly and Caleb Trowbridge. She is also survived by her beloved dogs, Roxy, Mia, Princeton, and Stella.

Services will be held at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 3309 N. Seminary Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 on Sunday evening, April 29. Visitation with family is 5-6pm, with a memorial service following at 6pm. There will be a light reception to follow in fellowship hall. Parking is available across the street at Hawthorne School on Seminary Ave. Any financial contributions to the family may be sent to the church, made out to Tatiana Wiegel. Messages to the family may be left at this website: www.lakeviewfuneralhome.com.