Donna R. Vance, 85, of Coldwater, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 5, 2010 at Drews Place in Coldwater.



A funeral service will be held at 11:30 AM on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Coldwater with Pastor Curtis Adams officiating. Interment will follow at California Corners Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM on Monday, November 8, 2010 at Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater.



Donna was born on August 15, 1925 to Marlin and Erdine (Quimby) Donbrock in Ovid Township. She was raised on the family farm and graduated from Coldwater High School in 1943. She married her husband of 64 years, Leland Vance, on September 29, 1946 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Coldwater. She lived in Branch County nearly all of her life. Donna was primarily a homemaker, but worked as a teller at Southern Michigan Bank & Trust early in her life and later served as secretary at St. Paul’s and was an Avon representative.



Donna was a very active lady, serving as a 4-H Leader, member of the Altar Guild, Ladies Aid Society, taught Vacation Bible School and was involved at Lakeland Elementary School, which her children attended. She had many hobbies; sewing, needle work, cooking, baking, gardening, crossword puzzles, bridge, board games, golfing, watching the Detroit Tigers, boating, snowmobiling and traveling. She and her husband had traveled with friends to Hawaii and Florida through the years. Her special hobby was making quilts for each of her family members, which they will treasure forever.



Mrs. Vance lived her life with a quiet dignity and grace. She sought to instill in her family the virtues of responsibility, industriousness and loyalty, and for that they will always be grateful.



She is survived by her husband Leland Vance, daughters Cheryl (Dennis) Downs of Coldwater and Colleen (William Price) Vance of Ann Arbor, brother Merle (Elizabeth) Donbrock of Coldwater, sister Marilyn (Gene) Pascoe of Coldwater, grandchildren; Matthew (Heidi) Downs of Coldwater, Benjamin Downs of Manhattan Beach, CA and Graham Downs of Coldwater, great-grandchildren Hayden Matthew Downs and Calison Downs. Donna was preceded in death by her parents, son, John R. Vance, in 1982 and sister, Carlene Hunker, in 2009.



The family wishes to thank the entire staff of Drews Place in Coldwater for the compassionate care they provided to Donna and for the emotional support they gave to them.



Memorial contributions may be directed to the John R. Vance Memorial University of Michigan Scholarship (c/o Southern Michigan Bank & Trust) or to St. Paul Lutheran Church.