Donna Nienhuis

Donna Nienhuis was known and loved by many people throughout her lifetime. She had a way of making those around her feel comfortable and she drew others close to her with her warm personality. No matter what Donna was doing, she touched others with her kind and compassionate heart while making treasured memories along the way. She could often be found with her nose buried between the pages of a fictional story, watching her favorite television programs, or setting off on new travel adventures around the world. Donna was always engaged in many activities while devoting most of her time to family and friends.

On August 8, 1953 in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, Donald and Beverly (Gould) Palmer were celebrating the birth of their daughter Donna during a transformational time in U.S. history. She was part of the generation often referred to as the “Nifty Fifties” when the exciting and unprecedented changes taking place within our nation. Rock ‘n roll was bursting onto the scene while names such as Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis were defining the world of music. Famous shows like “I Love Lucy” and “Milton Berle” were endearing the hearts of Americans as TV became America’s favorite pastime. It was also a time of great exploration as Hillary and Norkay were the first to reach the summit of Everest, the first non-stop transatlantic flights took place, and Chuck Yeager set new air speed records, opening the way for space travel.

Donna spent her formative years in Mt. Clemens located in Macomb County in the eastern portion of the state where she was the oldest of three children in her family. She attended local schools and began her passion for travel with trips to Scotland and England during high school. Following graduation in 1971 she was accepted as an exchange student to the Netherlands. During her fourteen months in the exchange program, Donna traveled to Leiden, Netherlands located in the province of South Holland. Little did Donna know, but this trip would open the door to exciting changes in her life.

Donna met Mrs. Helen Nienhuis, who was the program coordinator for placement of exchange students with many families on arrival in the Netherlands. She opened her own home to roughly 40 students, and Donna happened to be one of them. This would become the place where fate introduced Donna to her future husband Perry, Mrs. Nienhuis’ son. Early in her studies, Donna was struggling to speak Dutch so the young Perry gave her a Dutch grammar book with the advice of “Here, learn Dutch!” Through his close personal tutelage, Donna was inspired to work hard and quickly became fluent in his native language. She went on to be one of the best students that crossed the Nienhuis threshold. In addition, this experience triggered the start of a life-long relationship.

Upon returning home from the Netherlands, the feelings Donna had for the young man she left overseas remained in her heart. Perry came to America in 1973 and followed Donna to Michigan where they rekindled their romance. They were married on August 30, 1974 in Mt. Clemens. The couple moved to Tucson, Arizona where they soon welcomed daughter Heather into their hearts and home. When Perry completed his studies a short time later at the University of Arizona, the young family of three moved back to Michigan where he found employment at Meijer. Eventually they relocated to Kalamazoo in 1980, where Perry pursued a career in various sales and service industries. Besides being a stay at home mom for several years, Donna found work as a deputy clerk in the Kalamazoo County Clerk’s office where she worked for the following 17 years.

Donna’s adventurous spirit resulted in many pursuits. In the early eighties, AYSO soccer came to the area and Perry began coaching – Donna soon got involved too. She was the epitome of a “Soccer Mom” and had the mini-van to prove it, traveling almost weekly to Heather’s soccer games. Together Donna and Perry organized and directed an international soccer exchange program named the Portage Kikkers, affording many boys and girls teams the opportunity to travel to the Netherlands and experience the country they loved so much. It was through these programs that Donna met many of her closest friends as Soccer became a major part of her life.

She enjoyed her membership with the Portage Gardening Club, loved reading, and often created various craft projects and custom-made candles. She also took jewelry making classes, and was talented at drawing, sewing, and quilting. She delighted in shopping and talking on the telephone with her best friends. Donna also had a rock ‘n roll heart, especially enjoying the music of Bob Seger and Pink Floyd. She enjoyed watching programs on HGTV and Discovery Channel as well as several prime time shows. Donna also loved learning and had a wealth of knowledge which was demonstrated by her ability to beat anyone at games such as Trivial Pursuit and Jeopardy. She was an excellent cook, and was well known for her potato salad and brownies. Donna had a passion for music, arts & crafts, reading and delighted in spending time in her garden.

Travel was something that brought great excitement into Donna’s life. Early in her childhood, her family spent summers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula camping, fishing, and boating from a cabin in the remote town of Engadine. Throughout her life, Donna shared her zest for travel with both of her brothers. Family vacation destinations included Tennessee and Disney World with her brother Todd, while annual trips to California brought her closer to her brother Greg and sister-in-law Sally.

Later on, she ventured across Europe to places like Italy, Switzerland, and the Former Yugoslavia to experience new cultures, meet people, and broaden her love of food. Two summers spent in Nigeria with Perry’s family opened up new windows into a world that is rarely touched by most people. During her most recent trip, Donna was able to join Perry’s entire family in celebrating his parents’ 60th wedding anniversary in Tuscany, Italy. Each new adventure added to her life experiences while creating cherished memories.

Family always was important to Donna. In fact, she called her in-laws “mom” and “dad” even before she and Perry were married since she was close to them from her days as an exchange student. She was referred to by others as daughter, niece, sister, wife, mumma, aunt, and oma. Her beloved granddaughters brought her great joy and she was blessed to witness their births.

In so many ways, Donna Nienhuis was a delightful woman who others loved to be around. She was creative and intelligent, hard-working and diligent. Donna faced difficult times head on, even when health challenges compromised her way of life by limiting her ability to travel or even to taste the foods she enjoyed so much. She was diagnosed with Sjogrens syndrome and Fibromyalgia forcing her to stop working in the mid-nineties and leaving her permanently disabled. Despite these challenging circumstances, Donna continued to embrace life and those around her.

She loved to live and she lived to love, forever holding a special place in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. With so much left to give, Donna’s life ended much too soon. She will be dearly missed.

Donna M. Nienhuis passed away at 3:30 p.m. on October 4, 2009 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI due to complications from liver transplant surgery. Donna’s family includes her mother, Beverly Palmer of Jackson, MI; her husband Perry of Kalamazoo, MI; her daughter, Heather (husband Rich) Provost of Grand Rapids, MI; 2 granddaughters, Rachel and Madeline Provost; 2 brothers, Greg (wife Sally) Palmer of Laguna Hills, CA; and Todd (Lisa Crawford) Palmer of Rochester Hills, MI. Donna was preceded in death by her father, Donald Palmer. A service to honor her life will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 8, 2009 at the Betzler Life Story Funeral Home located in Kalamazoo, MI.