Donna E. James

Donna E. James, 101, of rural Fayette, Iowa, died peacefully on Saturday morning, August 8, 2026, at MercyOne in Oelwein.

Funeral: 10:30 A.M. Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the Stanley Union Church with Rev. Philip Rownd officiating.
Visitation: 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. on Friday, at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein and for one hour before services at the church on Saturday.
Interment: Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, rural Oelwein, Iowa.
A Memorial Fund has been established for the Stanely Union Church.
Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com

Donna Evelyn James was born June 11, 1925, on a farm northeast of Oelwein to Otto and Bonna (Wilkinson) Rummel. She graduated from Stanley High School in 1943 and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Upper Iowa University. Donna was an elementary school teacher in Belle Plaine, Maynard, Stanley, and the Oelwein Community Schools for 36 years. She married Calvin James on June 29, 1947, at the Stanley Union Church where she was a member and served as a Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, deaconess, missions board and choir director. She was also a member of the Retired Teachers Association, McDowell Club, Fine Arts Club, Phi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society. She was also a 4-H leader. Family was important to her. She especially enjoyed attending her grandsons’ baseball games and her granddaughters’ music performances. Music and sports were her entertainment.

Survivors include her Sons and Daughters-in-law: Jerry and Marilyn James of Chino Hills, California and Jon and Barbara James of Fayette, Iowa; her Granddaughters: Jessica (Joe) Benter of Dike, Iowa and Leah Wright of San Diego, California; Grandsons: Sam (Shannon) James of Ankeny, Iowa, Micah (Kristy) James of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Great Grandchildren: Gavin and Carson Benter, Brady and Stella James and Owen James and Lucy Wright and also many Nieces and Nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband: Calvin on December 15, 1953; sisters: Ruth Allers and Virginia Bone; brothers-in-law: Howard James, Clarke James, Dale Allers, Wyland Bone and sisters-in-law: Betty James and Lucile James.