Donna Wiley

Donna J. Wiley, 85, of Waukon, IA, died Friday, October 28, 2016, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 31st, at 11:00 AM at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon with Pastor Duane Smith officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Sunday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. Memorials can be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness at www.nami.org.

Donna Jane Wiley was born on April 8, 1931 in Grayling, MI, the daughter of Edwin and Eva (Hendrickson) Carlson. She was baptized in the Baptist Church and graduated from Grayling High School. Donna was a registered nurse and earned her BSN at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, MI. While working there she met a young intern named Dr. Alden Frances Wiley and the two were married on November 28, 1953 in Lansing, MI. Donna and Alden started their lives together in Kalkaska, MI where they spent a few years before moving to Waukon, IA. There are nurses in four generations of Donna's family; starting with her mother and ending with her granddaughter Renae. In addition to caring for her family, Donna herself had a long and varied career in nursing while living in Waukon. She served as head nurse at Northgate Care Center, was an Allamakee County Home Healthcare nurse, as a school nurse for the Waukon Schools and spent many years working side-by-side with Alden at his medical office.

Donna was involved in a number of community events in Waukon and served as the assistant Girl Scout Leader for the local troop. She enjoyed music and liked to play the piano and sing. Donna loved to entertain family and friends and always had an open door to her home. She was known for her positive attitude and cheerful and optimistic personality.

Survivors include her husband Dr. Alden Wiley of Waukon; her children: Jerry (Bonita) Wiley of Bondurant, IA, David Wiley of Lansing, IA, and Eva (Tom) Denny of Marion, IA; 6 grandchildren: Lea (Michael) Toland, Daniel Wiley, Nicklas Denny, Renae (Matt) Campbell, Krista (Kevin) Lepore, and Nathan Wiley; and 6 great-grandchildren: Rylan, Annabelle, Hayden and Cullin Toland and MaCallister and Finley Campbell. She is preceded in death by her parents Ed Carlson and Eva (Carlson) Olin; a brother Ed Carlson; and a son John Wiley.