Donna Hammen

Donna L. (Scheidegger Sorenson) Hammen, loving mother to Deb (Matt) Eccles of Centennial, CO; Chuck (Faye) Sorenson of Crestview, FL; Shelley Sorenson of Polk City, IA; and Jill Sorenson of N. Redington Beach, FL, passed away on November 18, 2024. Her final moments were spent peacefully at Serenity House, Centennial, CO, surrounded by her family.

Donna L. Scheidegger was born on November 13, 1930, in Jolley, Iowa. The family moved to Webster City for several years before returning to the Jolley area. She graduated from Rockwell City High School. She married Dean Sorenson on November 12, 1950. They farmed and raised livestock together in the Palmer, Pomeroy and Fonda areas until Dean passed away on June 24, 1972. Donna continued to farm with her son Chuck for another 4 years after Dean's passing. She married Roland Hammen on August 28, 1976. She and Roland farmed in the Jolley area and moved to Rockwell City after their retirement. Roland passed away on April 17, 2016. Donna moved to Denver, CO in 2017 to be closer to her eldest daughter, Deb.

Known for her sweet and loving nature, her gardening, canning, baking and cooking skills, as well as being a caregiver to many in her life over the years, Donna will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her. After raising her own children, Donna provided care to her mother-in-law Clara Hammen, her parents, her uncle Roy Scheidegger, her brother Dennis Scheidegger, and her husband Roland as they each faced various health challenges over the years. Donna's family asks that she be remembered for the joy and kindness she brought to others in life not the sadness of her passing. In addition to her loving children, she is survived by her brother Dale (Betty) Scheidegger; 8 grandchildren: Stephanie (Mike) Rosenthal, Jason Eccles, Dale Sorenson, Donna Rose Sorenson, Jonathan (Allison) Klaassen, Tina Klaassen, Josh (Starr) Oswald, and Haylee (Angelo) DeNubbila; 9 great grandchildren, brothers-in-law Blair (Donna) Sorenson, and Gene (Nancy) Sorenson. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Dean Sorenson and Roland Hammen, her parents Louis & Irene Scheidegger, and her brother Dennis Scheidegger as well as many beloved friends and other family members.

Over her lifetime, Donna was very active in the Pomeroy United Methodist Church, and after marrying Roland, was also active in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Pomeroy. Donna was a member of the 3M Club in Pomeroy for over 60 years. She enjoyed playing cards and dancing, visiting with family, neighbors and friends, as well as biking and Sunday drives around Twin Lakes. Donna was truly ahead of her time in growing and canning her own food, eating healthy, being physically active and working hard - and she passed these traits and life skills on to her children and grandchildren.

Flowers and birds were also an enjoyment to Donna throughout her lifetime, and she definitely had a "green thumb." Donna will long be remembered for her talents in baking homemade bread, cinnamon rolls, and pies - enjoyed by many family members and friends over the years. Her dinner rolls were a family favorite for every holiday get-together. There was nothing Donna enjoyed more than visiting with family & friends over a cup of coffee and serving her homemade baked goods.

A visitation will be at Laufersweiler's Palmer-Swank Funeral Home in Rockwell City on Sunday, November 24, 2024 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, and services will be held at Saint Thomas Catholic Church in Manson on Monday, November 25, 2024 at 10:30 AM with interment to follow at Union Cemetery in Pomeroy, Iowa.