Donna M. Springer

Gowrie - Donna Marie (Lind) Springer 85, passed away Sunday, June 14, 2020 in California. A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be scheduled in Gowrie at a later date. Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family. Donna Marie Lind was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on August 1, 1934 to Helen Leone Lind and John Clinton "Clint" Lind. She grew up in Harcourt, and as a young girl, she worked in her dads grocery, Clints Food Store. In High School, Donna and her younger sister, Mary, were best friends and had many adventures riding the train to Boone and visiting the local parks with their brother, John Lind, and their childhood friends the Bottorf children from Harcourt. Donna played basketball in high school and was active in her church youth group. When the youngest Lind child, Sindie, was born, Donna and her siblings, Mary and John, were given the honor of naming their new baby sister! In 1952, Donna went to college in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and later graduated from Iowa State Teachers college, where she was certified to teach kindergarten and primary school. Donna excelled in college and had many lifelong friends from her college years. Donna loved teaching and taught kindergarten and Primary School 1st and 2nd grades at Odebolt-Arthur Elementary School, and later she taught elementary school at Cedar Valley in Farnhamville, Iowa. On June 25, 1955, she united in marriage to Darwin Frances Springer, at the Methodist Church in Harcourt. In 1960, Donna and Darwin started farming the Springer family farm 4 miles NW of Gowrie. In 1972, they also bought the Gowrie Gambles Hardware Store from Howard and Theone Lease. In 1982, they joined the True Value Hardware Store chain and successfully owned and operated their business until their retired in 1993. During this time, Donna was seen hauling loads of grain to co-op as well as spending long hours clerking in the hardware store she loved. She actively supported the Gowrie business community and created many floats for the Gowrie 4th of July Parades. In the Gowrie community, Donna was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the United Methodist Church, where she participated in a wide variety of committees, the United Methodist Women (UMW) group, and other church activities. She loved to bake and was often called upon to make cherry pies or prepare beef burgers for the July 4th UMC chicken dinners and the American Legion Stand. Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Darwin Frances Springer; her parents, Helen Leone Greenlee and John Clinton (Clint) Lind; infant children, Dwight Darwin Springer and Darla Kay Springer; and her sister Mary Sidles. She is survived by her daughters, Debra Jean Satterfield (Mark Satterfield) and Denise Joan Hopkins (Dean Hopkins); grandchildren, John Satterfield, Elizabeth Satterfield, and Kylie Hopkins; her brother, John Clinton Lind; her younger sister Sindie Lind Pietz; and many nieces and nephews. SERVICES Services will be at a later date.