Donna Mae Haub

Donna Mae Haub, 81, of Dayton, Iowa, died Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at Windsor Manor in Webster City.

At this time, there will be no service held for Donna. Following their mother’s wishes, her daughters had requested a cremation. Later, when it is safe for groups to gather, the family will announce the date and time for a Celebration of Donna’s Life which will take place at the United Methodist Church and graveside at the Cemetery in Dayton.

Donna Mae Blair was born on December 29, 1938, in Austin, Minnesota, the daughter of Russell and Violet (Swaney) Blair. Donna’s parents moved their young family back to the Dayton area where they farmed. Donna had three siblings: Jerry, Mavis, and Jim.

Donna graduated from Dayton High School and then moved to Ames with a girlfriend to start her working life. After a year or so, she married Richard Blackwood, from Cambridge, Iowa. Richard enlisted in the Iowa Air National Guard and served in the Korean War. Donna and Richard had three children together: Penny, Debbie and Rusty. They raised their family in Webster City, and Dayton Iowa, then moved to San Bernardino, California, and finally back to Newton, Iowa, where the marriage dissolved.

Donna returned to Dayton with her three children to raise them, instilling the work ethic and the values that she had received from her parents. Donna worked many years at the Dayton Clover Farm grocery store and was one of the two women that started and ran the Clover Farm’s Coffee Shop, cooking delicious meals that drew all the farmers and businessmen and businesswomen in for lunch.

Donna was known, not only for her cooking skills, but was a baker that was famous for her pies, breads, cookies, butterhorns, Christmas candies, and cinnamon rolls. She loved to put boxes of goodies together and share with the people she loved. Donna was an incredible gardener, who could can and preserve most of her families’ needs for the year. The major characteristic that set Donna apart was her relationship with animals. It was as if they knew her, from the first moment, and were calm, knowing she would not harm them. It was amazing to watch.

Donna married Daryl Haub in 1983 and was able to return to the life she loved: farming. Donna and Daryl had been in the same class during their education in Dayton and finally decided they needed to spend time working together. They had many successful years together, farming, bailing hay, raising shorthorn cattle, selling feeder pigs or market ready hogs from their old-fashioned sow herd that had a great pasture with a creek running through it. Hog heaven. Donna and Daryl also grew and sold pumpkins, squash, gourds and other goodies, every fall for many years. In 2017, Donna’s Alzheimer’s had reached a point where Daryl was unable to continue caring for her on the farm. He asked her children to come and find a way to care for her.

Donna’s children wish to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the wonderful and amazing caregivers at the Windsor Manor in Webster City. Donna was loved by everyone and she truly enjoyed her life amongst these beautiful angels for the last nearly three years of her life.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, her older brother Gerald (Jerry) Blair of Dayton, and her younger brother James (Jim) Blair (Retired Navy Veteran) of Sun City, AZ. Her loving spirit will be missed by her children: eldest daughter Penny Cope (Air Force Veteran) of Helena Montana, daughter Debbie Harris of New Iberia Louisiana, son Rusty Blackwood of Seattle Washington, son-in-law Layne Cope (Retired Air Force Veteran), son-in-law KG Harris, husband Daryl Haub (Navy Veteran) of Dayton, Daryl’s son Ben Haub and wife Rachel of Dayton, Daryl’s daughter Janell Reuscher and husband Steve of Clear Lake Iowa, Donna’s sister Mavis Hagberg (Air Force Veteran), brother-in-law Wayne Hagberg (Retired Air Force Veteran), sister-in-law Lois (Jerry Blair), sister-in-law Marlys (Jim Blair), 9 nieces and nephews, grandchildren: Joshua, Daniel, Cody, Rachel, Jordan, Malcolm, Eva, Brielle, Asa, and great-grandchildren: Connor, Abbey, Stella, Jack, and Penelope.