Donna Lambert

Donna Lambert lived her life to the fullest among her family and friends. She leaves behind a wonderful collection of memories for her family and many loving friends to cherish forever.

Donna was born on February 24, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan to Jay and Leila Ruth (Davis) Reed. Though Donna was an only child until she was a young teen, her cousins Diane and Judy were her childhood companions in Detroit and extended visits to Virginia and the ‘terrible threesome’ were lifelong friends. When Ruth married Cecil Nicholson, they moved to Saint Clair Shores and gave Donna three siblings Rick, Tom (aka a million fat pigs), and Brenda that Donna adored. As a young mother, Donna reconnected with her father and his kin in Kentucky and her grandmother, and her aunts Sue and Betty were so important to Donna.

Donna developed a love of singing from an early age and had a beautiful alto voice. She also competed in speaking contests and won an award at 10 years old. Her singing and acting talents were put to good use on the stage in high school, college and later several plays at the New Vic Theater. Donna graduated from Saint Clair Shores High School before setting off for K College in Kalamazoo.

Attending Kalamazoo College changed Donna’s life. There she met Tom Lambert, who would steal her heart forever. They met briefly after he congratulated her on her performance in The Merry Wives of Windsor when they were both mailing letters at the quad. Two years later, they were dating and then secretly eloped in 1961 above a grocery store in Battle Creek. Their witnesses were a man going to buy cigarettes and a shopper in curlers! The newlyweds lived apart in separate dorms until Christmas break when they had to go home to their families and confess that they were married. When the school found out, they lost their jobs and scholarships. Love was more important than money, and the rest of their story is history.

After graduating in 1964 while seven months pregnant and a toddler at home, she stayed home to raise their young children: Laura, Mark, and Jennifer. As a mother, she was always loving and empathetic. Laura credits her career as a psychologist to her mom’s modeling of caring for others. Mark remembers her sense of humor and her attendance at his football games. Jennifer became especially close to Donna once the older kids were off at college. They bonded over reading, eating popcorn and shopping. Jennifer is forever grateful for a trip to England they took together in 2019 where they got to talk for two weeks straight; all of her children have inherited her gift of gab. Her children treasure the memories of their mom and love her immensely. She in turn was incredibly proud of her children and took every opportunity to say, “all my children are thoroughbreds”.

Donna returned to school completing a Masters in English at WMU and subsequently started teaching there in the English department and then the business school. Later, she returned to K College working as the assistant registrar. Far from her comfort zone she led a computer software conversion during her years there. The students and the staff loved her witty humor and sincere approach to helping them solve any issue or task. Donna approached every project or task, be it her turn presenting at Current Events Club or wrapping a gift, with diligence and attention to detail. She kept a detailed diary for over 20 years that she consulted with pleasure to correct Tom during their joint storytelling.

Tom retired early, which afforded the two of them many adventures. They bought a small apartment in NYC and enjoyed “sitting in dark rooms and being entertained”, as Donna liked to say. They expanded their love of theater, Broadway shows and jazz clubs and then fell in love with the opera. Live entertainment was definitely her love language. They saw countless shows together, always enjoying one another's company as much as the performance.

As much as she relished her role as a mother, Donna was an exceptionally devoted grandmother. She was always interested in what the “grands” were doing and made sure to attend their school events, performances and graduations. It was very important to her that she developed a personal relationship with each of her grandchildren. She would pay attention to every detail when they shared a story so that on the next trip or visit, she could pick up right where they left off. Donna enjoyed sending them special cards for birthdays and every holiday and wrote personal sentiments in her beautiful handwriting. Her children and grandchildren have a wide collection of her cards to cherish for years to come. They enjoyed her quick-witted personality and her sincere interest in their lives.

Her positive light and energy drew others to her. She touched the lives of many through her beauty, warmth, humor and love and there is no doubt that she will be deeply missed. One of the last texts she wrote to her dear friend Susan expressed her sorrow of her life likely ending before she expected, saying “I guess why I can face it right now is that I have had such a blessed life”. May her loved ones hold on to her special memories and allow them to warm their hearts for many years to come. As Mark Twain said about another wonderful woman:

“Wheresoever she was – there was Eden”.

Donna Lambert of Kalamazoo, age 83, died on February 6, 2026. Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Jay and Lele; her sister, Brenda; granddaughter, Natalie; and sister-in-law, Cheryl. Surviving are her husband of 64 years, Thomas; children: Laura (Conrad) of Chicago, IL, Mark (former wife Nancy) of Santa Barbara, CA, and Jennifer (John) of Oakland, CA; grandchildren: Quenten Gilliam, Dylana Lambert-Gilliam, Miles Lambert-Gilliam, Julia Lambert-Gilliam, Jack Lambert, Charlie Lambert, Katie Lambert, Maggie Polyzoides, and Henry Polyzoides; brothers: Tom (Dawn), and Ricky; and many nieces and nephews.

Please join us for a Life Story Visitation on Thursday, February 12, from 5 – 7 PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900 where food, drinks, and stories can be shared. A family only burial will take place on Friday, February 13. Plans are also being made for a Celebration of Life in May. Celebrate Donna’s life online by sharing favorite stories and photos on her dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Kalamazoo College or the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts.