Donna Mae (Kocher) Uhlenhake

Donna Mae Kocher Uhlenhake, 88, of Seneca County, passed away at dawn on Monday, February 26, 2018 at home. 

Donna was born on Apple Street in Tiffin in July of 1929 to Clarence “Dusie” and Ada (Heydinger) Kocher.  She married David J. Uhlenhake in July of 1952 at Sacred Heart Church, Dayton, Ohio

Survivors include son, John Uhlenhake; daughters, Jennifer (Dick) Jaris, Kristina Glansdorp, Gretchen Schellenger, Heidi (John) Porcari; sons, Eric Uhlenhake and Leif (Darren) Uhlenhake; 10 loving grandchildren, Charlie, Hannah, Paul, Emily, Maggie, James, Anna, Johnny, Ashley and Julia; and a sister, Janet Dell-Freeman of Tiffin

Donna was preceded in death by twin sons; her parents; husband, David; a sister, Rose Eileen McMahon; and brother, Clarence “Buddy” Kocher.

Donna was a 1947 graduate of Melmore High School, a graduate of St. Elizabeth School of Nursing, Dayton, Ohio and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Heidelberg University, Tiffin.  She attended the Dayton Art Institute pursuing her love of drawing, art and painting and BGSU for graduate studies in Education and earned advanced certification in dyslexia education through the Orton Society, New York City.

Donna worked in the etching room at Tiffin Glass House as a teenager; she taught summer reading at New Riegel School and taught junior high school students in reading, science and literature at St. Mary and St. Joseph Elementary Schools.  She retired from teaching after 20 years.  She practiced Nursing as a Registered Nurse for over 51 years beginning at Grandview Hospital, Dayton and continued her work at many hospitals and nursing facilities throughout Seneca County including; private duty, Migrant Health Clinic Nurse, Alta Mira Nursing Home, Fostoria Hospital and St. Francis Home where she cared for her mother, Ada.

Donna was devoted to her Catholic faith praying the Rosary daily and attending daily Mass for years.  She was a parishioner of both St. Mary and St. Joseph Catholic Churches in Tiffin for over 50 years.  She was a founding member of Elder College at Terra State Community College in Fremont.  She was a lifetime member of Mohawk Historical Society and a member of Tiffin Historic Trust.  She was honored as Grand Marshal for the Tiffin-Seneca Heritage Parade, was a published writer and an accomplished artist.  Donna loved to travel and visit her children and grandchildren.  She enjoyed her many pets, tending to her flowerbeds and vegetable garden, making jelly, creating grapevine wreaths and rag rugs, reading, writing letters and loved being with her grandchildren.

Her Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 85 South Sandusky Street, Tiffin, Ohio with Rev. Gary Walters officiating.  A Rosary will be prayed 20 minutes prior to Mass.  Burial will be private in Rock Creek Cemetery.

Friends may visit with the family from 4-8:00 P.M. on Friday, March 2, 2018 at Hoffmann-Gottfried-Mack Funeral Home, 236 S. Washington St., Tiffin, Ohio 44883, (419) 447-2424.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Donna’s name to St. Labre Indian Mission School, 100 Tongue River Road, Ashland, Montana 59003, St. Mary Catholic Church, 85 S. Sandusky St., Tiffin, Ohio 44883, St. Joseph Catholic Church, 36 Melmore St., Tiffin, Ohio 44883 or to Salvation Army, 505 E. Market St., Tiffin, Ohio 44883.

Condolences may be sent and the guestbook signed at www.hgmackfuneralhome.com.

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