Donna Jane Marckel, age 76, passed into eternal life with her Lord Jesus on February 28, 2014 at her home in Maplewood, Minnesota, surrounded by the love of her family and supported by hospice care. Born March 11, 1937 in Seymour, Indiana, to the late Alfred and Marie (Deppert) Snyder, she was the sixth of seven siblings. A graduate of Immanuel Lutheran School and Seymour High School, Donna worked in medical offices and as a merchandiser for American Greetings and Eastman Kodak Company. She spent countless hours volunteering in school libraries, keeping books for the school lunch program, printing Braille Bibles, and serving on numerous church committees and guilds. She dearly loved music, especially classical and choral music, and sang as a church soloist and choir member for many years. Her open, friendly personality and gentle sense of humor endeared her to all she met. For more than 52 years she was the devoted wife of Amos O. Marckel, who survives her. She and Amos lived and raised their family in Rochester, Minnesota, and Austin, Texas. In 2007 they moved to the Twin Cities to be near family. She and her husband enjoyed travel with friends and worship at South Shore Trinity Lutheran Church (White Bear Lake, MN), Redeemer Lutheran (Austin, TX), and Grace Lutheran (Rochester, MN), where she was embraced immediately by her sisters and brothers in Christ. Donna dedicated her life to family and home, based on her firm Christian faith and positive outlook. She was an accomplished baker, cross-stitcher and hostess. She won hearts through her generous nature, and especially loved to give cookies to children and adults alike, including those who cared for her during her illness. She loved her family without qualification or exception and encouraged them in every endeavor. During her long and grace-filled battle with glioblastoma brain tumor, she was for all an example of stalwart determination and peaceful acceptance at the same time. She is survived by her children, Carol Holderness and husband Clifford of Brookline, Massachusetts; Daniel Marckel and wife Julie of St. Paul; Angela Marckel and husband Dan Hunter of Fridley; and Matthew Marckel and wife Kristi of St. Louis Park. She was a loving Oma to Otto and Max Marckel, George and Anna Holderness, and Josh, Ben and Jacob Marckel. She is also survived by her sister, Mae Ellen Schneider of Seymour, Indiana, and brother, Tom Snyder, of Detroit, Michigan; sisters-in-law Catherine Smith of Santa Maria, California, and Annette Sandness and husband Jon of Otsego, Minnesota; also many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, and siblings Vernon Wayne (infant), Carol Ann (infant), Maxine Taylor and Lois Hageman. Visitation will be on Friday evening,4 to 8 PM, March 7 at The Johnson Peterson Funeral Home, 2130 2nd St., White Bear Lake, Minnesota. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 8 at 11:00 AM South Shore Trinity Lutheran Church, 2480 S. Shore Blvd, White Bear Lake, MN. Interment is at Lakeview Cemetery of Mahtomedi, Minnesota. Donations in her memory may be made to South Shore Trinity Lutheran Church of White Bear Lake, MN; Immanuel Lutheran Church of Seymour, IN; or to the charity of your choice.