Donna went to be with the Lord on December 5, 2020. She was born on July 17, 1934 to John and Laura Perry Kelsey. She graduated from Hudson High School, Hudson, Michigan in 1952. She graduated from Adrian college with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1956.
She started a 24-year basketball referee career, as a freshman in college. She held a national rating and could referee anywhere in the USA. Donna married Russ Shindorf in August 1956 and went to her home high school to start her long career of teaching.
In 1962, she started teaching at Siena Heights College and St. Joseph Academy in Adrian, Michigan. She received two Master’s degrees while there, one in Administration and one in Guidance & Counseling.
In the Fall of 1971, Donna became the Guidance Director at Pike Delta York Schools, where she remained until her retirement after 40 years of education in 1996. She loved the students and pushed and prodded them into graduating. She would not take “NO” for allowing them to drop out of school. She tried to find all kinds of scholarships for those wishing to further their education.
In 1987, she was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Adrian College, where she played basketball, volleyball and was a cheerleader for football and men’s basketball. In 1980, she married Howard Puehler and together they had a vegetable garden and went to the Toledo market. In 1998 she moved her vegetables and baked goods to the Ann Arbor Market. She dearly loved the customers and vendors. She loved life to its fullest. When asked when she was going to give up the markets, she always said when she was looking up at the roots instead of looking down at the daisies.
In 2009, she started the farmer’s market in Delta. Donna had also been a volunteer at the Delta American Legion serving breakfast on Sunday mornings. After her retirement from education, she was on the school board from 2000-2004. You could find her at breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Barn Restaurant in Delta. There, she enjoyed the group settling all the problems of the school, town and world. Many fun and sometimes hot discussion took place there.
Donna was very active in her church at St. Richards in Swanton. She served on many committees, was a member of Rosary Society, St. Vincent Paul Society, served as a Greeter, Usher and was a Eucharistic Minister. Her fondest loves were her grandchildren. She tried to attend all the athletic events and school functions they were involve in.
Surviving are her sons Mike (Holly) Shindorf, Rip (Diane) Shindorf, Terry (Melissa) Shindorf; foster son Wesley (Roseann) Granger; stepsons Howard Puehler Jr., Ben (Heather) and Ted (Lori) Puehler; grandchildren Addy, Whitney and Taylor Shindorf, Mackenzie, Trevor, Madison and Trenton Shindorf, Zachary, Autum, (Austin) Alig, Haley, and Zane Shindorf, Andrea (Chad Muntz) and Adam (Erica) Granger, Melanie, Melinda, Michelle and Megan Puehler, Samantha and Eric Puehler, Jarret and Zak Puehler and 7 great grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were both her parents; husband, Howard; former husband, Russ Shindorf; brother, John Kelsey; sister, Elizabeth Rogers and great friend Harold Lehman.
Friends will be received from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at Barnes Funeral Chapel, 5825 St Hwy 109 in Delta and from 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM on Thursday at St. Richards Catholic Church, 333 Brookside Dr. in Swanton, Ohio. A funeral mass for Donna will begin at 11:00 AM on Thursday with Father Eric Culler officiating. She will be laid to rest at St. Richards Cemetery following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be of donor’s choice, St. Richards Church or St. Richards School.