Devoted Educator and Community Leader Donna M. Jeffers Passes Away at 92
Donna M. Jeffers, a devoted educator and dedicated member of her community, passed away on September 23, 2026, at the age of 92 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Born into a family of ten children on a farm in Illinois, Donna grew up with a strong work ethic and a love for gardening, which she would later pass down to her own family.
After graduating from high school, Donna attended Western Illinois University, where she earned a degree in Elementary Education in 1955. She went on to teach third grade at Loucks Grade School in Peoria, Illinois, before embarking on an adventure to teach in Hawaii during the 1957-58 school year.
It was while teaching in Hawaii that Donna met her future husband, Bob Jeffers, a young engineer from Caterpillar. The two were married in December 1958 and went on to have three children together. They spent seven years in California before returning to central Illinois in 1966 to raise their family.
Donna continued to teach as a substitute teacher in Washington, Illinois, and later worked at the Lincoln Grade School Learning Center until her retirement. She remained active in her community, volunteering as the 'Picture Lady' to teach elementary students about classical artists and art for many years.