Donna Lorraine (Krueger) Dole

Donna Lorraine (Krueger) Dole, formerly of Valley Center, Kansas, passed away peacefully on May 12, 2026, at the age of 88, surrounded by family at her residence.

A Memorial Visitation will be held Thursday, May 28, 2026, from 5:00-7:00 PM, at Warren McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence Kansas. A Celebration of Life will be Saturday, May 30, 2026, 10:30 AM, at Palmyra Baptist Church, 999 NW Butler Rd, Benton, Kansas. (3 miles N. of Hwy 254 on Butler Rd). Inurnment will follow at Green Valley Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Donna’s name may be made to Hope in the Valley Equine Rescue & Sanctuary, 9025 N. Broadway St., Valley Center, KS 67147.

Donna was born on July 8, 1937, in Hamilton, Ohio, to Robert and Irene (Sparks) Krueger. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Kansas. As a small child, Donna and her sister, Darlene, rode their pony to attend a one-room school house near the family farm. She later attended school in Whitewater and Valley Center, Kansas.

At the age of four, Donna announced that she wanted to become a Nurse. She graduated Valley Center High School in 1955 and was accepted into the three-year Diploma Nursing Program at Wesley Hospital in Wichita later that August. The training was rigorous and of the 70 students who began the program, Donna was one of only 40 to graduate in May 1958. Four months later, she passed her State Boards and was thrilled to officially become a Registered Nurse.

In November of 1958, Donna began working as an office nurse for Dr. Robert Brown, at Kellogg Medical Office. She flourished in nursing and helped grow the practice from seeing ten patients a day to fifty patients a day over the course of ten years. During this time, at the age of 23, she married Butch Mosiman. They later divorced.

Donna married former high school classmate, Jerry Dan (“Danny”) Dole in 1965. Their daughter, Dana, was born in 1966 followed by their son, Darty, in 1969. Tragically, the marriage ended after Danny struggled with alcoholism and later took his own life. Donna’s children were only seven and four years of age at the time. She believed deeply in honesty and always answered her children’s difficult questions truthfully, often saying, “Children can handle the truth if you just allow them to do so.”

By 1966 Donna was working as a staff nurse in SICU at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. Her nursing skills, leadership and dedication earned her tremendous respect throughout her career. By the time she retired in 2000, she was the Head Nurse and Manager of the Cardiac Telemetry Unit, overseeing a staff of 56 employees. Many members of her nursing team remained with her for more than twenty years, and her unit became recognized for outstanding patient care, teamwork and compassion. Donna was especially proud that her hard work provided a safe, happy home and college education for both of her children.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her children, Dana (Megan Hiebert) Dole, Darty (Wendy) Dole, her sister, Darlene (Jim) Shoemaker, her grandchildren, Megan, Eli and Raleigh; numerous nieces and nephews and her beloved canine companion, Katherine.

Donna enjoyed knitting, crocheting, cross stitch and later antiquing with her sister and nieces. She was an enthusiastic fan of KU Basketball, the KC Royals, the KC Chiefs, old westerns and all of the John Wick movies.

Donna truly believed that a childhood filled with love, security and discipline gave her the determination to survive what ever life placed before her. She loved her children, grandchildren, sister, nieces, nephews and many dear friends “to the moon and back.” She once asked, “Most people remember mothers for their cooking. What will you remember me for?” Our answer, “You were a heck of a lotta fun!” Donna will be deeply missed, but her contagious laugh will live on forever.