Donna K. Gaffney

Donna Kay, daughter of Lawrence and Mildred (Eich) Sporrer, was born March 13, 1955 at Carroll, Iowa. She grew up on a farm east of Manning and attended Manning schools. After graduation in 1973 she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Foreign Language from Iowa State University in Ames. She also holds a Reading Endorsement from Morningside College in Sioux City. Donna taught kindergarten through fourth grade at Early, Spencer and Sheldon before her nineteen years in the Kuemper Catholic Schools in Carroll as a first grade teacher. Donna was united in marriage with Robert T.Gaffney on June 28, 2002 at Sacred Heart Church in Manning. They made their home in Manning where Donna enjoyed decorating and landscaping. She was a member of Sacred Heart Parish and the Altar Society. Her church was an integral part of her life. She was a loving wife, daughter and sister and her family was very important to her. She was a great fan of ISU athletics and enjoyed watching TV, especially "Big Valley" and "West Wing". After over 30 years as a classroom teacher she was to begin a new adventure as a Resource Teacher in the Kuemper Schools in the fall of 2012. However, Donna died unexpectedly on Monday, September 3, 2012 at the age of 57 years, 5 months and 21 days. Preceding her in death are her father Lawrence Sporrer; father in law Robert Gaffney and brother in law Jerry Effron. Donna is survived by her devoted husband Robert "Bob" Gaffney of Manning; mother Mildred Sporrer of Manning; seven siblings: Patricia Treinen (Richard) of Sioux City; Marilyn Tillman (Nolan) of Santa Fe, NM; Alice Sporrer of Sioux City; Larry Sporrer (Gema) of New Jersey; Lynn Sporrer of Manning; Loran Sporrer of Manning and Jennifer Sporrer of New Hope in Carroll; mother in law Virginia Gaffney of Carroll; brothers in law Tim Gaffney of Key West, FL and Mark Gaffney of Verde, AZ; sisters in law Jill Valde (Michael) of Coralville and Julie Effron of Phoenix, AZ; aunts Sally Schenkelberg of Carroll; Kay Loughran of Breda; Dorothy Schon of Glidden and Inez Ohlinger of Carroll; uncle Vernice "Sprig" Sporrer (Evelyn) of Templeton; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many former students who fondly remember her. REV. ROBERT GRALAPP, CELEBRANT REV. LYNN BRUCH, CONCELEBRANT Lector TOM LOUGHRAN Mass Servers NATHAN RANNIGER TREY BOYLE Gift Bearers JILL VALDE ALICE SPORRER Music "ON EAGLE'S WINGS" "HOW GREAT THOU ART" "AMAZING GRACE" "THE LORD'S PRAYER" "AVE MARIA" SHERRY LOUGHRAN, SOLOIST SACRED HEART CHOIR PAT HEITHOFF, ORGANIST Casket Bearers GENE LANGEL WAYNE EICH RANDY EISCHEID DANNY SCHENKELBERG MIKE LOUGHRAN KEVIN EICH RICK BOGATZ TIM GAFFNEY MARK GAFFNEY