Donna Rae Cornish, 91 of rural Ireton, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 after a brief stay and illness at the Good Samaritan Society of Le Mars.

Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at St. John Lutheran Church – Preston Township, rural Akron, Iowa. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Expressions of sympathy may be expressed to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.

Memorials can be made in Donna Rae's name to St. John's Lutheran Cemetery – Preston Township, rural Akron, Iowa.

Donna Rae Pendleton was born on January 1, 1934 in rural Akron, Iowa, the daughter of Vern and Minnie (Utesch) Pendleton. She received her early education in Brunsville, and that's where she met her lifelong friend, LeJoyce Jacobs. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended St. Paul Lutheran Church, Washington Township, rural Merrill, as a child. Donna Rae graduated from Le Mars Central High School where she was on the homecoming court at the 1952 Homecoming Coronation.

She was united in marriage to Donald Dean Cornish on June 1, 1952. They were married for 67 years before Donald passed on April 21, 2020.  Shortly after they were married, they moved to Norfolk, Virginia while Don served in the United States Navy from August 1952-1954. There the oldest of their four boys was born, Greg.

Upon their return to the Midwest, they started farming. Their second son, Curt was born in Akron. Donna Rae and Don loved to go dancing, especially at the Brunsville Legion Hall. They eventually settled on the family farm just south of McNally where their youngest two boys, Barry and Bruce, were born.

On February 14, 1974, their son Curtis was killed in a terrible car accident.

Donna Rae was a long-time member of St. John Lutheran Church in Preston Township, rural Akron.

Donna loved celebrating her favorite holidays, always spending the 4th of July with her friends and hosting Christmas and Thanksgiving with all her immediate family. She also enjoyed many camping weekends and fishing in the Lund boat with her boys. Their family took at least one annual summer vacation in the Forester Camper.

Her family was her whole world, and she especially loved being a grandma. Donna enjoyed reading and she was a wonderful cook. Food was her love language; she was always making a warm meal for her family or friends. Donna Rae enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren and spending time with them, whether it was just sitting around the kitchen table visiting or going shopping for some new school clothes. She had a strong work ethic and was always a positive and kind woman.

She without fail never missed a birthday and always had the cards delivered a day or two prior. She made every effort to attend all the family weddings, reunions, holidays, and school activities and games.

Survivors include 3 sons: Greg (Doris) Cornish of Akron, IA, Barry Cornish of Craig, IA, and Bruce (Phayvanh) Cornish of Sioux Falls, SD; 8 grandchildren: BJ Cornish, Brett (Dana) Cornish, Jessica Cornish, Justin Cornish, Tony (Phuong Tam) Chounramany, Tiffany (Aopha) Kouangvongthiene, Gema (Dan) Bosavanh, and Curtis Cornish; 8 great grandchildren; a sister in law: Chris Cornish of Milwaukee, WI; and 2 nieces and 2 nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Donald Cornish; her son, Curt Cornish; her parents, Vern and Minnie (Utesch) Pendleton; her father and mother in law: Lucian and Irene Cornish; sister, Imogene (Don) Dickman; and her brother in law, Darrell Cornish.