"I am so sorry for your loss...Donna was a very special woman who will be missed by all who were blessed in knowing her and will miss her smile that could light up a room "
In loving memory of
Donna Lee Beam
October 21, 1946 - April 14, 2012
Donna Lee Beam was born on October 21, 1946, in Kinbrae, Minnesota to the late Darwin and Bernice (Lubben) Beam. She received her early education in Fulda, Minnesota and later received her GED. She was baptized on November 10, 1946, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brewster and later confirmed on May 28, 1961, at First Lutheran Church in Dundee and again through adult confirmation at The Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Windom on May 18, 1997.
Through the years, Donna worked for the American Legion Club in Windom for over 15 years and then for the Minnesota Department of Transportation for 18 years in maintenance. She was a member of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Windom, the Legion Auxiliary and the Devil's Brigade. Donna will be remembered for being a loving mother and grandmother who loved spending time with her grandchildren. Her big heart and smile where contagious. She loved life and had many enjoyments which included genealogy in which she spent many hours at the Cottonwood County Historical Society in Windom, socializing at the Phat Pheasant Pub in Windom and her nieces and nephews whom she loved very much.
In December of 2011, Donna entered the Sunset Hospice Cottage in Worthington and remained there until passing away on Saturday morning, April 14, 2012, at the age of 65 years.
Donna is survived by her three children, Terry Hotzler and his wife, Shelly, of Jackson; Tammy Roos and her husband, John, of Worthington; Dana Fast and his wife, Jessica, of Windom; seven grandchildren, Nate, Madeline, Emma, Alyssa, Austin, Avery and Sadie; two sisters and one brother, Carol Deuth and her husband, Bob, of Portland, OR; Darla Pfeiffer and her husband, Gene, of Windom; Danny Beam and his wife, Kathy, of Windom; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Donna is preceded in death by her parents; one son, Lonny Hotzler; one brother and one sister, Marlin Beam and Bonnie Gesky.
Tributes
"i am sorry for your loss. my sympathes and prays are with you and your family."
"We are so sorry to hear of Donna's passing. Many years of knowing the family. I wish everyone a healing recovery with the lost of Donna. Sorry to all friends and family. Troy Nelson and Family"
"Tammy, Terry, and Dana, I always thought of your mom as Aunt Donna and always will. She always made me feel special and important...can't explain it...she just did. We may not see each other often but you are always in my heart, we are family. Chuck and I send hugs and prayers. Like your Uncle Hayseed(Gary) would have said: Take a deep seat and a short rein..hang tough!! Peace and Love You Lots, Connie and Chuck Dorweiler (Hotzler)"
"My thoughts and prayers are with the family. Donna was a kind hearted person who always had a smile."
"Offering my deepest sympathy to Donna's family. Time will pass but the memories will be forever present. Donna was so special to so many people. We all had time to prepare for her being called home but it still doesn't seem real. God must have something pretty special planned for his little Lady."
"What a special person! So full of love for everyone and everything. She radiated joy and love of life in a very special way that was hers alone. We will miss you and always keep you in our hearts."
"Donna, I guess tribute to you is a little difficult for me. But, Donna, I have very few number of people I call a friend and I am happy to say you where one of the few. It was always fun to run into you because or your ability to make and others to laugh and not to be to serious about every thing. When we talked a couple weeks ago I came away with the feelings of just how strong of a person you are. Your ability to remain as strong and up beat has helped me to become stronger myself. I will miss you. "
"Tammy, Terry, Dana and families:
My Aunt Donna will be missed by all!! I was blessed to be able to see her when I would visit my family in Windom. The memory I will never forget about her is everytime I would visit she would see me and call me her favorite niece. Now to think that I will never hear that again breaks my heart. She is in a Wonderful place and will be sadly missed by all!"
"RIP Donna!!! You will always be our favorite dancer when we DJ'd at the Phat Pheasant Pub. You may be gone, but you will never be forgotten!!! Keep on dancing!!!! (Bonnie and Marty of North and South Productions) Our sympathy goes out to Donna's family!!"
"Always a joy to see Donna, Big smile on her Face! Her spirit will always be a presence to her friends and will never be forgotton! Rest in Peace."
"Always smiling...that is how she will be remembered......Our thoughts are with all of you.."
"Donna was one of my all time favorite ladies. I will never forget her kind, warm gentle heart. My sympathies to her kids and family."
"Our sincerest sympathies to all of Donna's family and friends. She was the sweetest little lady with a big smile and heart. I remember a single time where I sang Karaoke and Donna got out on the dance floor and danced and smiled at me like she was enjoying the whole song. Loved that lady! May God comfort you at this sad time. I am going to miss seeing her around. "
"My condolences to the Beam and Hotzler Family. What can I say about Donna.....Always bubbly and happy go lucky, she will forever be in my memory. So sorry for your lose."
"If you never knew Donna you missed a real nice lady, always ready to listen and welcome people. Thank you for being a friend to all the people you knew."
"Miss Donna was and will always be a treasured part of my life. She always had that great BIG smile on her face and always seemed so happy to see me. I will miss our conversations and all the laughs (and 'cougar training' will never be the same) but I take pleasure in all of the wonderful memories. Heartfelt condolences to all of Donna's wonderful family and friends. She will certainly be missed and remembered by many."
"Myself and my husband had the pleasure of meeting your Mom when when she came to Canada with Susan Gebauer. Both of them spent a few days with us at our cottage and it was as if we had known your Mom for years. I called her not long before she went into hospital and I am so glad I did we had a wonderful chat. She was a very special lady and I know she enriched our lives she will be missed. Bob and Shirley Skilling "
"Kids, your mom stole our hearts the minute we met her with her. She welcomed us "outsiders" wholeheartedly and remained near and dear to both of our hearts, as she always shall. Her stories were wonderful, her heart huge and her hugs and kisses as warm and loving as she was. She was fun, a true dancing queen and lived her life for every moment. We shall always love and remember her. Rest well, sweet Donna, in the arms of heaven."
"Dana and Family...So sorry to here about your mom. What a wonderful friend she was....we always had to talk about "our" boys....she was also the"second" mom. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Now she is dancing in heaven with the angels!! "
"It didn't matter if Donna knew you for 5 minutes or for 5 years, she made you feel like you were her best friend. She was a very caring and compassionate lady and she loved her family dearly. Donna always made sure she greeted you with that big smile on her face. She will be sadly missed by all!"
"Donna was such a wonderful person with a heart of gold. She will be missed greatly. My thoughts and prayers are with you all that is time."
"We have all had a very rare opportunity to experience such a wonderful, beautiful personality and person as Donna. She was a rainbow in our lives and everytime we now see one, we will remember her. Our deepest sympathy to her family and all who knew her. She will truely be missed. Lars & Georgia Arndt"
"Tammy, Terry, Dana - I've known your Mom since we were 16 yrs old. But we didn't really get to know each other until she began work at MnDOT. I soon learned that if she considered you as a friend, you had a rare thing - a true friend who would be there for you in the good times and the bad. I feel so fortunate that she considered me her friend. She was so proud of her family and loved to tell stories about all of you. When she got her diagnosis, she wasn't concerned about dying. Instead, she worried about having enough time left to get her affairs in order so you wouldn't have to worry about it. She felt so bad when she had to cancel her trip to Italy and we often talked about how we were going to take a trip there when we retired. But God had other plans for her and she went to a better place. I can just see the big hug St. Peter got when she arrived at the gates of Heaven! I am going to miss her - so much! Please know that you and your families are in my thoughts and prayers."
"Donna Mae to us......she used to write poetry and always had inspirational thoughts she loved to share with us in your writings. She always had a hug and kind words for everyone. We will miss you Donna!"
"Donna was always the bright light in the room. I don't know of anytime I saw her she didn't have a smile. You have my sympathy on your loss. "
"Whenever I saw Donna,whether it was a week or several years between. She always had a smile and a hug for me. Then we would sit and catch up. When I first introduced my wife to Donna, it was like they knew each other forever. That is how she was, a very nice person. We will miss her."
"I always called her Big D. Always did her best to make people smile . Because she was a feeling person. "
"To Donna's children -- Your Mom was very special. She always had a kind word and smile when we met her. Our smypathy to you. Jean & Don Hoppe"
"Donna was a true friend and a very caring, compassionate woman. My prayers are with you all. "
"She did it her way..with courage, dignity and style! Gone from this earth but never from our hearts! My sympathy to all... "
"Just wanted to let you kids know that I was thinking of you. Do you remember the fun we had when I babysat for you "Hotzler" kids along with Jessie & Lis Snider, Tuner, Mitch Even, and I'm sorry I can't remember all the other kids. All the moms would go out and I had the whole group. I would take you all to the Dairy Queen or Pine Inn and we would spend more than I made babysitting but we sure had a lot of fun. I hope you remember these times and they will give you a little lift. It is hard to lose you mom. I lost my 32 years ago. I will try to stop and see you at the visitation or service to catch up with you all be strong, your babysitter....."
"Donna's friendship was priceless.We will never forget her wonderful smile and there was always a hug. Donna you better believe how much you will be missed by all who knew you. Our deepest sympathy to Tammy, Terry ,Dana and families. Your mom was a great lady.
Robert & Joanie Halvorson/Matt Johnson"
"I think everyone has fond memories of Donna and will be missed. Thoughts and prayers to her family. I know she is dancing with her maker right now !"
"RIP Donna..Now u are with mom and dad and Bonnie and Marlin!!! Give them all hugs from the Girls and me...Love Deb, Londa & Chantal... God Bless to all your children and to Dan, Darla & Carol... I Love you all dearly you will always be our Family..."