Obituary of Valta Donham

Valta L. "Val" Donham, age 86, formerly of 1307 Marcy St., Iowa City died on Friday, January 16, 2004, at Lantern Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Coralville following a short illness. Celebration of Life Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Iowa City. Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be on Monday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. In Lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Iowa City Hospice or to the Youth Programs Ministry of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Valta Leigh Donham was born on February 22, 1917 near Tipton, Iowa, the daughter of Oscar and Mary Ann McEowen Olson. She graduated from University High School in Iowa City and married Harold "Doc" Donham on June 19, 1937 in Iowa City. Val was a devoted mother and grandmother. A farm wife, she also worked at Kent Studios and at University Photographic Services. Her many and varied talents included playing the piano, dancing, sewing, photography, painting , and caring for her flower gardens . She was a member of the East Lucas Club, Izaak Walton League, Moose Lodge, Eagles Lodge and a long-time member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Val always put her family first. They will remember her work ethic and her willingness to try new things. Her family includes a son, Kelley (and Jean) Donham of Iowa City, a daughter Kathy and husband Ray Venzke of Kalona, five grandchildren, Julia Venzke and her friend Jamie Ward of Cedar Rapids, Kristina Venzke of Kalona, Debra Venzke and husband Brett Cloyd of Iowa City, Andrew Donham of Minneapolis, Joel Donham of Iowa City; two sisters, Ruth and husband Elmer Potter and June O'Brien of Iowa City; one brother, Roy and wife Marie Olson of Oxford; two sisters in-law, Ina Wombacher and Blanche and husband Bill Hartsock, one brother in-law Charles Kent all of Iowa City along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Val was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 1997, two sisters in-law Wilma and husband Robert Larsen and Alice Mae Kent. The Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service are caring for Val’s services and her family. Online condolences may be sent to her family at www.gayandciha.com; click on obituaries and condolences.