Jeanette C. Donovan

Jeanette Clara (Hartman) Donovan, 91, of Le Sueur, passed away on Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at Comfort Residence in Le Sueur, MN.  Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, 11:00 a.m. at St. Anne's Catholic Church, Le Sueur, MN.  C.C.W. Rosary will be at 3:45 p.m. followed with a visitation from 4:00 p.m. ~ 7:00 p.m, Tuesday, November 12, Kolden Funeral Home, Le Sueur, MN.  Visitation will continue Wednesday morning, at the funeral home from 9:00 a.m. ~ 10:45 a.m.   Burial will take place following Mass at Calvary Cemetery, Le Sueur, MN.  Lunch to follow burial at St. Anne's School in Le Sueur, MN.  Fr. Chris Shofner, Fr. Kenneth O’Hotto and Fr. George Grafsky will celebrate the Mass.

She was born on February 9, 1928 on the family farm outside of St. Benedict, Scott Co., MN to Phillip and Veronica (Schommer) Hartman. She was the middle child of nine children.

Jeanette was baptized at the St. Benedict Catholic Church and attended St. John Catholic School in Jordan while helping on the family farm.  She graduated with honors from the Jordan High School in 1946. After high school she provided childcare for her sister before moving to Belle Plaine, MN with her family where she worked at Hahn’s Department Store.

Jeanette married Marty J. Donovan on November 22, 1947 at St. Peter & Paul’s Catholic Church in Belle Plaine, MN before moving to LeSueur in 1949 when Marty started work for the Green Giant Co. Jeanette worked at Baldwin Hardware, Osborn Labs, Investors Drilling, Inc. and for Dr. Ivan Osborn, DVM in addition to being an active homemaker and volunteer. They were happily married for 52 years before Marty died in 1999.

Volunteering was a way of life for Jeanette. She was very involved with St. Anne’s Catholic Church and School, Gardenview Nursing Home, and Minnesota Valley Hospital. She received numerous awards for her work as a Boy and Girl Scout Leader, Archdiocese of St. Paul service, and was selected as the Senior Citizen representative for LeSueur Co at the MN State Fair in 2000. Jeanette was elected the first women president of the LeSueur Country Club.

She was a long time member of the St. Anne’s Church Choir, St. Anne’s Council of Catholic Women, Catholic Aid Association, Disabled Veterans Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, Minnesota Valley Hospital Auxiliary, United Way and Ancient Order of Hibernians Women’s Auxiliary.

Jeanette enjoyed music especially playing piano and singing, bowling, golf, cards especially bridge, bingo, gardening, cooking and researching family history. She enjoyed attending school and sporting activities of her children and grandchildren. Family vacations at the lake and holiday and other gathers at home and the Donovan farm were special events. She thoroughly enjoyed family reunions and extended family gatherings.

Jeanette was preceded in death by her husband, son Gregory Donovan, infant grandson, parents; sisters Irene (Neil) Eischens, Dorothy (Bob) Solheim, Luella (Roger) Olson, Phyllis (Russ) Harmeyer; brothers Ray, Gilbert, Urban, and Larry Hartman; in-laws Joe, Rose, and Anne Donovan; and nieces and nephews.

Left with loving memories are children Gary (Joan) Donovan of Morris, MN, Mary (Rick) Perkins of LeSueur, and Tim Donovan of LeSueur; daughter-in-law Sharon Donovan of Shorewood, MN; grandchildren Jason Perkins and Karin Perkins, Ryan (Melissa) Donovan, Alison (Dan) Ross, Dr. Elizabeth (Eric) Meichsner, Jessica (Kyle) Matheson, and Kelly (Matt) Olive; and 10 great-grandchildren; sister-in-laws Betty Hartman, Marydale Hartman, and Carol Hartman; and numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to St. Anne’s Patron’s Endowment, Pancreatic Action Cancer Network.com, or the Recreation/ Activities Department at Ridgeview Nursing and Rehab-LeSueur. Condolences may be left on Jeanette C. Donovan’s online guest book at www.koldenfuneralhome.com