Donna R. Esmay, 79, of Fort Dodge, died Sunday, January 28, 2018, at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home.

A celebration of Donna's life will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 3, at First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Andrea Kraushaar officiating. Memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church, The Lord's Cupboard or the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home. Arrangements have been entrusted with Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Donna is survived by her children, David (Lisa) Esmay, Fairmont, West Virginia; Elisa (Terry) Bedsworth, Kansas City, Missouri; five grandchildren, Christina, James and Ella Esmay, and Grace and Aidan Bedsworth; two great grandchildren, Suzanna Caldwell and Gabriel Esmay; her siblings, Gary (Joann) Peterson, Fort Dodge; and Sue (Kent) Anderson, Traverse City, Michigan; and her nieces and nephews, Brian (Jane) Peterson, Kristen (Doug) Utley, Erik (Jessa) Anderson, Spencer Anderson and Bennett Anderson. She was preceded in death by her husband and he...[more]

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Donna Rae Peterson, the daughter of Herbert and Ruth (Decker) Peterson, was born November 11, 1938, in Fort Dodge. She graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High in 1957, and received her B.A. degree from Morningside College. On February 4, 1961, Donna was united in marriage to James Esmay in Fort Dodge. Donna was Activities Coordinator at Sunny Knoll Care Center in Rockwell City and Friendship Haven for many years before serving as Director for RSVP. She was very active in Christian Education at First United Methodist Church, where she was also a member, was a volunteer for The Lord's Cupboard, served communion to shut-ins, helped with the visitation of members and assisted with Sidewalk Sunday School.