Donna Mahr

Mahr, Donna OREGON - Donna Mahr, age 64, of Oregon passed away at home on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007, surrounded by love and family. Donna referred to her nearly two-year experience with ovarian cancer as her Frog Journey, a symbolic name referring to the fact that frogs only leap forward and her belief that one can fully rely on God. She was born July 31, 1943, in Omaha, Neb., the daughter of Dorothy and Joe Redfield and step-father Paul Ripper. She married Larry Mahr on June 18, 1966, in Indianola, Iowa, cementing a life-long partnership of love, leadership, and community activism. Larrys military assignments took the two to San Antonio, Texas, Chicago, Ill., and New Orleans, La. They spent a year in Fond du Lac, before settling in Oregon in 1970. After graduating from high school in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1961, Donna attended Iowa State University, graduated with a bachelors degree in history in 1965, and taught in public schools in Carpentersville, Ill., for one year. She attained a masters in education and professional development from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater in 1986. She completed the coursework for a Ph.D. in adult education at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in the 1990s, but stopped work on her thesis after realizing that Kalee, her first grandchild, "is a whole lot more fun and educational." Donna always found the action in her community, or created it, and was a strong advocate for children and students of all ages. Many of her activities flowed from the needs of her own children and grandchildren. Donna has been an educational consultant and tutor for 20 years. She was involved in the creation of the following: Mothers of Twins Club in New Orleans, La., Oregon Preschool Inc., Gifted and Talented education program in the Oregon school district, Eagle School home-school group, Wisconsins home-schooling law adopted in 1983, Quest Center childrens enrichment program, After School Clubs of Oregon, Parent Share Oregon, Day at Grandmas, and the Community Connections programs at the Oakhill Correctional Institution. Donna has served on the Oregon School District Board of Directors, South Central Wisconsin Library Board, and Dane County Fair Board. In addition, she was an active member, leader, and Sunday school teacher at the Peoples United Methodist Church, and she served as a 4-H Club leader for her children and grandchildren. Donna was awarded the Oregon Good Neighbor Award in 1999 and the Bert Grover Child Advocacy Award in 2000 by the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators. Donna is survived by her husband, Larry; her daughter, Natalie Aicha and partner E.V. von Seldeneck; son, Nathan and wife Katie, and their children Kalee and Charlie; daughter, Laura and partner Monica Zimmerman; son, Matthew and wife Serina; and her mother, Dorothy Ripper. She is preceded in death by her father, Joe Redfield; and step-father Paul Ripper. A memorial celebration of Donnas life will be held at PEOPLES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 103 N. Alpine Parkway in Oregon, at 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 15, 2007, with visitation starting at 10 a.m. A memorial visitation with the family will be held on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the church. Donna and her family request that memorial donations be made to either Community Connections or Oregonians Working and Living Sustainably (OWLS). Community Connections is a volunteer program at the Oakhill Correctional Institution. Checks can be made to Community Connections/Community Education, c/o Oregon School District, 123 E. Grove St., Oregon, WI, 53575. OWLS is a grassroots group promoting sustainable living. Checks can be written to OWLS, c/o Doug Brethauer, 296 N. Main St., Oregon, WI, 53575.