Donna Muilenburg

Donna Lorraine Muilenburg, age 89, of West Okoboji passed away July 10, 2025. Donna was the daughter of John and Lorena (Gilson) Obman. She was the middle child and was born in the old Carroll, Iowa, hospital on February 28, 1936. She was baptized March 22, 1936, at Peace Lutheran Church in Wall Lake, Iowa. As a child, Donna lived on the Obman family farm near Albert City, where she attended Lincoln Lee School. The family moved to a farm near Sulphur Springs before finally settling in Rembrandt, Iowa, when Donna was in 6th grade. She was confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Storm Lake, Iowa, on June 18, 1950. Donna graduated from Rembrandt High School in 1954. She attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa, and received her two-year teaching degree.

On November 25, 1956, Donna was united in marriage to Melvin Charles Rossiter at St. John Lutheran Church. Donna and Melvin settled in the Spencer, Iowa area to farm. Two children, Lisa and Randy, were born to this union. In November 1959, Donna was widowed at the age of 23 with a two-year-old and a four-month-old after Melvin died in a farm accident. Donna and the children moved back to her parent’s farm in Rembrandt, where she continued to take college courses to finish her four-year teaching degree.

In April 1966, Donna was introduced by mutual friends to Earl Lee Muilenburg of Hartley, Iowa. This blind date turned out to be a success. Donna and Earl were married on September 18, 1966, at Faith Lutheran Church in Sioux Rapids, Iowa. They purchased the Muilenburg farm from Earl’s parents and began their life together. Michael was born in 1969, and four years later the family was complete with the arrival of Ann.

Donna kept busy running the household and helping out on the farm. In 1978 she decided to open a small gift shop on the farm in her mother-in- law’s old wash house building. A friend once told her every hobby should make a profit, and she took that to heart. Due to Donna’s talent and determination, the shop on the farm was successful, and she decided that she needed to expand. She moved her business to the Lakes area in the mid 1980’s. After renting for a short time, she decided that she needed to buy something. The opportunity arose when the old White Oaks bait shop in West Okoboji came up for sale, and she bought it.

Donna always enjoyed doing big projects, and at age 60 she decided to expand her business again by moving the old Milford hospital and renovating it to be her gift shop. She also added a tea room. Ten years later she moved an 1870’s farmhouse to create the Okoboji County Inn. The last step was to move the original Muilenburg farmhouse to West Okoboji. She enjoyed living the last 19 years here and being close to her businesses.

Donna enjoyed playing the card game Golf and somehow ended up with the most aces and kings. Sequence was another favorite game, and she was always team yellow. She was an excellent cook and loved to try new recipes and was known for her cinnamon rolls, homemade noodle soup, quiches, and cold strawberry soup. Donna was the best hostess and loved interacting with her customers and guests. Her greatest joy was visiting Sanibel Island, Florida, with family every spring. She loved the beach and could sit there for hours.

Donna’s life is honored and celebrated by her children: Lisa, Randy (Sarah), Michael (Karen), and Ann; her grandchildren: Chelsey and Jason Rossiter, Makayla and Jacob Muilenburg; her great-grandsons: Easton and Jack Rossiter; and her brothers: Kenneth and Richard (Eloise). She was also a beloved aunt to many nieces and nephews, and she always appreciated their visits and phone calls. She will also be so missed by her spoiled 19-year-old cat, Henry.

Donna was preceded in death by her first husband, Melvin; her husband of 50 years, Earl; her parents John and Lorena, her sister Phyllis Thayer, brother Dale Obman, sisters-in-law Joan and Jean Obman, father-in-law and mother-in-law Issac and Alice Muilenburg, mother-in-law Helen Rossiter, and niece Julie Obman.

If you want to pay tribute or honor Donna’s memory, support your local small businesses, especially if they are woman-owned.

Services:

A celebration of life for Donna Muilenburg will be held on Saturday, September 20 from 4 to 7 pm at Annabelle’s Tea Room, located inside Donna’s gift shop at The Wash House, in West Okoboji.

A private family burial will be held at a later date at Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley, lowa.