Donna Mae Milander

LAUREL — Donna Mae Milander, 83, Laurel, died Sept. 17, 2018, at the Providence Medical Center, Wayne. Visitation and a prayer service were Thursday at Pilgrim Congregational Church of Christ, Coleridge, and continued Friday one hour prior to services at the church. Funeral services were Sept. 21 at the Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ, with Rev. Gary Kimm officiating. Burial was in the Coleridge City Cemetery, Coleridge. Pallbearers were her grandchildren, Holly Jareske, Amber Liljedahl, Heather Behrle, Jeremy Milander, Bryan Pippitt and Scott Pippitt. The Wintz Funeral Home, Coleridge, assisted with the arrangements. Donna was born Dec. 19, 1934, in Nebraska City, to Gerhart Otto and Erma Margaret (Vock) Puppe. She lived in Nebraska City until at the age of 14, when they moved to a farm in the Pearl Creek area west of Coleridge. She was confirmed in the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Coleridge. Donna married Eugene Milander July 9, 1953, in Coleridge. They farmed in the Coleridge area and Donna helped Gene with many of the chores. She loved keeping everything nice and tidy and took great pride and satisfaction with how the farm appeared. In 2016, they moved into Laurel. Donna was an active member of the Pilgrim Congregational UCC, Coleridge, and was a charter member of the Dryland Daisies Extension Club. She instilled her love of music in all of her children and loved being with her family, especially her grandchildren. Donna is survived by her husband of 65 years, Eugene Milander, Laurel; three children, Jon and Carol Milander, Coleridge; Pam and Kevin Goering, Platte Center; and Karla and Greg Pippitt, Laurel; six grandchildren, Holly and Ryan Jareske, Amber and Ryan Liljedahl, Heather and Jon Behrle, Jeremy Milander, Bryan and Megan Pippitt, Scott Pippitt; nine great-grandchildren; a brother, Jerry and Marilyn Puppe, Coleridge; and a sister, Linda and Daryle Milbrath, Winston-Salem, N.C. She was preceded in death by her parents; a grandson, David Milander; two granddaughters, Kristin Milander and Susan Pippitt; and a sister, Jean Ann Brown.