Donna Rae Furlong

Donna Rae Furlong, 85, of Sioux City, passed away Wednesday, November 11, 2020 in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

A private, family Mass will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, November 16, 2020 at St. Michael Catholic Church in Sioux City.  The service will be live streamed at https://youtu.be/y32CAgFKHnc. There will be no visitation. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Donna was born December 22, 1934 to Orlo and Mabel (Dugan) Shank in Aurelia, Iowa.  She is a graduate of Iowa Methodist School of Nursing in Des Moines.  She married Philip (P.D.) Furlong in 1955 and they were blessed with five children. 

Donna was an active member of Saint Michael Parish and attended mass daily.  Being a devout Catholic, she was always ready to lend a helping hand at church events or the many places she volunteered.  Entertaining at the holidays – dressing a grand table, undercooking a massive Braunger’s prime rib, decorating the house in spectacular fashion, hosting parties was something that Donna loved to do. Donna most enjoyed spending time at “The Love Shack,” her cottage on Lake Okoboji listening to big band music.  There, her favorite pastimes were hosting gatherings of family and friends and sitting on the dock sipping a Crown Royal.  Donna was an avid Heelan Crusader fan and Iowa Hawkeye fan, throwing many legendary football tailgaters over the years.  She was extremely proud of her time spent as a nursing instructor at Saint Joseph Mercy School of Nursing in Sioux City.  Even in memory care, Donna’s nursing instinct was strong as she often saw herself as part of the nursing staff and helped to care for other residents in her own way.  She had an impeccable sense of style and loved helping others find theirs in her many years working at La Ventura.  Until her final days, Donna’s positive attitude, beautiful smile and fun-loving spirit touched everyone she met.    

Donna is survived by her son Michael (Rebecca) of Kansas City, her son Dave of Dakota Dunes, her daughter Lori Wilson (B.J.) of Lincoln, Nebraska, her daughter-in-law Lisa Furlong, son-in-law Jim Lamoureux and twelve grandchildren: Jennifer (Lamoureux) Struyk and Michael Lamoureux, Lauren and Carter Furlong, Caitie, Sidney and Porter Furlong, Sophie, Jack and Joey Furlong and Ben and Andrew Wilson. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband P.D. Furlong, daughter Lynn Lamoureux and son Kent Furlong.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Saint Michael Catholic Church in Sioux City.