Funeral services for Mrs. Vergene Donovan, 101, of Spirit Lake, will be held Tuesday, October 28th, 2025, at 11:00 A.M., at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Spirit Lake, Iowa. Interment will be at Lakeview Gardens Cemetery, Spirit Lake. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Vergene’s name. She was born to Harry Bleeker and Minnie (Zishka) Bleeker during an Iowa blizzard at her parent’s farm home on March 4th, 1924, near Spencer, Iowa. She was one of three children.
Her father had diabetes and died young. That made her childhood sometimes sad and difficult. She was given lots of responsibility at a very young age. She graduated from Spencer High School with the class of 1941. She worked at the Five & Dime and the Spencer Public Library to help out at home while in school and after graduation. In 1942 she went to California to visit her Aunt Edna and Uncle Oscar. While there she found work in a WWII defense plant. She met a boy from back home, Edward Donovan. Within a few weeks they decided to get married. WWII was causing boys to enlist, and she and Edward thought it was important to have each other when the war was over.
Her happiness was always her husband, her family, and her many friends. She loved her Church, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. She was baptized, confirmed, and married in the faith that had guided her life. When her last child left for college, she became more involved in her community, state, and nation. Edward worked long hours at Berkley & Company and her days became filled with activities such as being a member of many boards/committees: The Lakes Art Center (charter member), Okoboji Summer Theatre, Voluntary Action Center, Spirit Lake Centennial, Homestead Retirement, St. Luke’s Lutheran Home, American Cancer Society local and state boards (ACS Daffodil Chair, State Golf Tournament Chair, County Golf Tournament Chair), the Republican Women of Iowa local and state boards, the Lakes Regional Hospital Auxiliary board, the Lutheran Women’s Mission League, Lincoln Club, Campaign Chair for many political candidates at the local, state, and national level(s) (including both George Bush and George W Bush in her county), George W Bush- N.W. Iowa co-chair in 2024 (23 counties), U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley’s County Chair, 5th District Republican Women board member, County Central Committee Member and Finance chair, Precinct Chair, Dickinson County Republican Women board member and President, IFRW District and State Board, Arizona Young Republican Salute to Dan Quayle committee, County Chairperson for Congressman Steve King, District Judicial Nominating Committee, Partner in ALL C’s Embroidery & Advertising, Thursday Morning Book Club, Terrace Hill County Chaiman, Dickinson County Heart Association, White House Conference on Families, Spencer High School Class of 1941 Reunion Chair, State Health Council, Governor Terry Branstad Inaugural Committee, Fred Grandy for Congress, Tom Lathan for Congress.
She was given many awards: the Outstanding American Cancer Society, both State and National 1985 and 1986 ;the John MacDonald Outstanding Republican in Iowa Award 1995 (presented by Gov. Branstad); Honorary Colonel in the Iowa Militia; 2002 Republican Service Award in Dickinson County; the Outstanding National Volunteer Award 1986; Harold Morgan Award 1985, and Who’s Who in American Politics, 18th Edition.
She was a proud member of the Class of ’41. One hundred and thirteen (113) of them were friends and remained friends all of their lives. She loved her Book Club members and her Bridge Gals!
She loved politics and looking for good candidates and then helping them get elected. She was fortunate to meet nine (9) presidents (Eisenhower, Carter, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, G.H. Bush, G.W. Bush, Clinton, and Trump) and at least three (3) great governors of Iowa, who became her friends (Bob Ray, Terry Branstad, and Kim Reynolds).
But she just wanted to be a good wife and mom, and grandma! She will be dearly missed by all of her children, their families, her friends, and all those she served and worked with!
Vergene is survived by her son Jim Donovan (Charmaine), daughter DeEtte (Donovan) Bryant, son Scott Donovan, seventeen (17) grandchildren, twenty-two (22) great-grandchildren, and eight (8) great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward B Donovan; her parents; her brother, Darrell; her sister, Lois (Jim Dunigan); her son, Edward G Donovan; and her son-in-law, Timothy Bryant.
Arrangements are under the care of Turner Jenness Funeral Home.
