Donna ‘Nana’ Altenbaumer, 78, of Centralia, IL, passed away Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at her home with loving family by her side.
She was born on April 20, 1946, in Vandalia, Illinois, the daughter of Don and Ernestine (Arnold) Frisby.
As a young girl, she was into 4-H, singing and dancing, baking, making fudge and candies, especially Christmas candies. She spent countless hours with the neighborhood kids swimming in the creek.
In high school, Donna was very popular and well liked. She loved cheering on her football team, the Vandals, and was in a great variety of school clubs, such as the Thespian club and the Latin club. She graduated with the Vandalia, Illinois class of 1964.
After high school, she married her first husband, Gary Kious, and moved to Wood River, Illinois. There they had their first of two daughters, Shelley, and later, Renea. Later, they divorced, and he passed away on July 16, 2021.
A beautician by trade, Donna owned her own hair salon business in Mulberry Grove, Illinois, for years. She moved to her hometown, Vandalia, and worked in the bakery in IGA. Later, she moved to Centralia, where she worked at Huck’s and met Kevin, the love of her life. They later married at the Zion United Church, in Centralia, and had over 22 years of marriage.
In her later years, she loved to do crafting. She and Kevin would often remodel their home as she loved the ‘old country look.’
Her pride and joy were her grandchildren, as she loved when they would come for visits. The more the merrier and the longer the better. Coming in a close second are her dogs, Sadie Sue and Gemma.
Until her health declined, they attended Fouts Christian Church where memorials may be gifted in her memory.
Preceding her in death are her parents, Ernestine and Clarence ‘Sug’ Pennington, her father, Don Frisby, brothers, Gary Pennington and Toby Frisby.
Surviving Donna are her daughters, Shelley (Lynn) McDowell, Vandalia, Illinois and Renea (Marshall) Harpster, St. Peter, Illinois;
step-sons, Jason Altenbaumer of Centralia, Illinois and Kristopher (Erika) Altenbaumer of Salem, Illinois; grandchildren, Dustin McDowell of Vandalia, Illinois, Jessica (Zachary) Dothager of Mulberry Grove, Illinois, Amanda (Chad) Elam of Round Lake, Illinois, Lucas (Jessie) McDowell of Vandalia, Illinois, Sammy Jo ( Jason) Sachs of West Paducah, Kentucky, Cassie (Joe) Herboth of Altamont, Illinois, Kristi (Zack) Zimmerman of Pawnee, Illinois; great grandchildren, Natalie, Braxton, Jay, Cole, Ash, Wyatt, Grace, Matthew, Stephanie, Elizabeth, Sara, Marida, Austin, Zoey, Emberly, Archer, Emelia, and Justice; sister, Janice K. (Roger) Coffey of Bolingbrook, Illinois; and sister in law, Linda Pennington of Vandalia, Illinois.
Visitation: 11:00 – 12:00 am., Friday, January 17, 2025, at the Fouts Christian Church, 1629 E Dix-Irvington Road, Centralia, IL 62801.
Funeral: 12:00 pm., following the visitation.
Interment will be at Mt. Evergreen Cemetery, Central City, IL, following the funeral.
Memorials may be given at the visitation and funeral or mailed to the Fouts Christian Church, 1629 E. Dix-Irvington Road, Centralia, IL 6280, in lieu of flowers, plants, and other gifts.
The family has entrusted Assalley Funeral Homes with the ceremonies.
Please visit www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com to share memories or to offer condolences to the family.
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