Donna Mae Medin (Clason), age 91, of Anoka Minnesota, died peacefully on July 30th.

Donna was raised in Richfield, MN with two sisters, Janice and Judy.  An avid letter writer, Donna began writing to Wallace Medin when he was in the Army stationed in Korea.  Once Wally came home from the war, a quick romance ensued, and they were married a year later.  They would have celebrated 70 years of marriage this November.  After their marriage, Donna moved to Dayton, MN where Wally was the manager of a farm, where they lived for 35 years.   In 1984 they moved from the farm to Anoka and became custodians at Elim Baptist Church (now Restoration Church) where they worked until retirement.

When their son, Danny, was tragically killed in a bike/car accident at the age of 7 in 1976, Donna began writing articles on grief and losing a child. She wrote dozens of articles that were published in magazines and newspapers such as The Standard, Family Life Today, and the Minneapolis Star and Tribune.  She also became a board member of the Anoka-Coon Rapids Kinship Organization, a non-profit youth mentoring program. She was a member of the Minnesota Writers Guild, received an Honorable Mention award from Writer's Digest, and was an Eleven Who Care award recipient from Channel 11 news.

Donna's love of Jesus shone brightly: she was very active at Restoration Church where she taught Sunday School, helped with Vacation Bible School, and was on the Prayer Chain and the Missions Committee for many years.  She was a prayer warrior who could always be counted on to pray for a specific need or clear decision and took anyone under her wing who needed extra love or another 'mom'.  She prided herself on having a home that was open to anyone needing a helping hand or a shoulder to lean on.  Donna loved attending all the band and orchestra concerts, church musicals, and sporting events of her kids and grandchildren; she was a very hands-on mom/grandma who loved supporting their interests.

We are celebrating a life well-lived, and a woman well-loved.  Donna will be remembered with much love by her husband of 69 years, Wally, and her children, Debbie (Medin) & Darren Maveus and Diane (Medin) and Steve Syler.  Also remembering her with love are her grandsons AJ (Megan) and Colton (Jaci) Syler, and Nathan and Cameron (Amanda) Maveus, along with great grandson, James.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. at Thurston-Lindberg-Deshaw Funeral Home at 2005 Branch Ave., Anoka on August 16th.  A celebration of life will be held August 17th   at Restoration Church 503 Polk Street, Anoka at 11 a.m. with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. and a luncheon following the service.  Interment will be at Vernon Cemetery in Elk River following the luncheon.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Restoration Church, 503 Polk Street, Anoka, MN 55303, or your favorite charity.