Donna Cornick, 1936-2016

Published 10:11 am Friday, September 2, 2016

Funeral services for Donna Cornick will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Bridge Community Church’s south location, formerly First Baptist Church, at 335 W. Clark St. The Rev. Clayton Balsley will officiate. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery.

Donna Cornick passed away peacefully Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, at her home in Albert Lea. She was 80.

Donna Cornick

Donna was born Jan. 10, 1936, to Alice and Gerald Beckjorden on the same farm as her grandfather, Henry Beckjorden, and her father in Leland, Iowa. She spent her early years on the farm and in 1940, her grandfather sold the farm and the whole family migrated to St. Paul. Donna was baptized at Salem Lutheran in Lake Mills and confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran in St. Paul.

She spent her school years in St. Paul and came to Albert Lea her senior year of high school, graduating with the Albert Lea class of 1954. She then spent three years at Naeve Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1957. Donna worked at Naeve Hospital from 1957 to 1969, Park Avenue Nursing Home for three years and back to Naeve Hospital until Jan. 1, 2001. Her specialty was mothers and babies; she loved that area.

Donna married Roger Cornick on Jan. 4, 1958. They had three children: Ann, Caren and Dale.

Donna became a baptized member of First Baptist in Albert Lea in 1958. She served on many committees, the deacon board, Sunday school, Bible school and treasurer of women’s group for 16 years. She was a member of the Red Cross for many years, serving during the blood mobiles. She also spent several years as a Girl Scout leader when her daughters were young.

Donna’s hobbies included sewing and reading. She was also known as a good cook. Her family and fellow church members loved her home-canned pickles. Grandchildren loved to come and spend time at Grandma’s house, even though they knew she was a stickler for rules and good behavior.

She was a caregiver. She and Roger looked after his parents the last 10 years of their lives and they had her mother, Alice, in their home for 10 years.

Survivors include husband, Roger; daughters Ann (Lonny) Hultgren and Caren (Kurt) Oster; four grandchildren, Brett Hultgren, Clay Hultgren, Andrew Oster and Anna Oster; and brother, H. William (Fran) Beckjorden; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her infant son, Dale Andrew; parents Alice and Gerald Beckjorden; and brother and sister-in-law, Nick and Rosemary Beckjorden.

God Bless her memory.