Hometown: Maquoketa, Iowa April 28, 1931 - December 27, 2015

Donna Mae Manikowski, 84, of Oak Park Place, Dubuque, formerly of Maquoketa, passed away Sunday, December 27, 2015.

To honor Donna's life, funeral services will be held Saturday, January 2, 2016, at 10:00 at Sacred Heart Church in Maquoketa. Family and friends may call from 2:00 to 4:00 Friday, January 1 at Lahey Funeral and Cremation Services in Maquoketa with a Vigil Service at 4:00. Friends also may call from 9:00 to 10:00 Saturday at the church. Burial will be at Assumption Cemetery in Charlotte.

Donna was born on April 28, 1931, in Clinton, Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Lena (Hansen) Lamp. She married John Manikowski on June 24, 1950, at Assumption Church in Charlotte, Iowa. They began farming on her family farm in Goose Lake, Iowa, and later operated Manikowski Quarry on their property. They raised five children, Vicki, Cindy, Dan, Bill, and Tim. John preceded her in death on September 29, 1987. Donna married Christ Freese on October 15, 1994, and they lived in Goose Lake and then Maquoketa until his death on January 11, 1997.

In addition to farming and operating the quarry, Donna held clerical positions at many businesses. She was active in the Iowa Community Betterment Committee for the town of Goose Lake in the 1980's receiving a Governor's Leadership Award in 1989. As a member of Assumption Church and later Sacred Heart Church, she volunteered for parish committees. She was known for her consummate baking skills and cooking from scratch. Donna was a hard worker and devoted mother. She was also known for her sense of fashion with her coordinating outfits and matching jewelry. Although she will be missed by her children, they know she is now free of her struggles. They pictured their brother, Tim, waiting with open arms for her entry into heaven. They also see her no longer with her frail body, but with her youthful dancing legs restored, ready to dance again.

She is survived by her children Victoria (Lonnie Weis) Manikowski of Maquoketa, Cynthia (Steve) Hintermeister of Dubuque, Daniel (Julie) Manikowski of Washington, IL, William (Tia) Manikowski of Bryant; daughter-in-law Barb Manikowski; and grandchildren Adam Weis, Cody Manikowski, and Jessica Manikowski.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Jewel Stolk and Roberta Claussen, her husbands, and her son, Tim Manikowski.