Donna Irene Mertens, 93, of Mesa, Ariz., formerly of Mexico, died Saturday, August 12, 2023, in Mesa, Ariz.
Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at Glendale Memorial Gardens in Centralia.
Donna was born the daughter of Joseph Duncan and Irene Helen (Laird) McDonald in Garnett, Kan.
Donna married Carrol Eugene Schuster and to that union, they had a daughter, Deanna Carol Schuster.
Donna then married John Ben “JB” Kaufman and he preceded her in death on March 21, 1994. JB and Donna resided for over 40 years in Molina, where they were members of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Donna was a Sunday School teacher there for young children.
Later, Donna married Frederick George Mertens and he preceded her in death on Dec. 4, 2004. Donna became Catholic and Fred and she were members of St. Brendan Catholic Church in Mexico.
Donna moved to be closer to her daughter in Arizona, becoming a member of All Saints Catholic Church in Mesa, Ariz.
She worked as a secretary at Audrain Medical Center and volunteered at the hospital and also at the Stribling House.
Donna loved to dance and listen to music.
She went back to college in 1979 to study counseling and was very proud of her accomplishments.
Donna is survived by her daughter, Deanna Diaz and husband Rico of Mesa, Ariz.; grandchildren, Darren Scott Nolan and wife Laurie of New Bloomfield, Melinda Liagoure of Mesa, Ariz.; great-grandchildren, Amber Nicole Nolan, Dagan Orion Hoer of Mexico, Ethan Michael Liagoure of Mesa, AZ, Mia Sommia Liagoure of Mesa, Ariz., Kira Grace Ikegami of Mesa, Ariz. ; many step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations are suggested to All Saints Catholic Church of Mesa, Ariz. or Saint Brendan Catholic Church of Mexico, and may be sent in care of Fenton-Kendrick Funeral Home, 104 S. Collier St. Centralia, MO 65240. Online condolences may be left at www.fentonkendrickfh.com.
