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Jan. 1, 1943-March 16, 2024

 

Donna Louise (Parish) Grover, 81, Cassopolis Mi., passed away on March 16, 2024, after a year-long battle with cancer. Born Jan. 1, 1943, to Willard Don “Bill” and Gladys Dora (Britton) Parish of Dowagiac, Michigan, Donna was born and lived most of her life in Dowagiac. On Oct. 3, 1959. Donna was united in marriage to Charles Eugene “Joe” Grover in Benton Harbor, MI. Donna and Joe celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary in October, 2023. Donna was baptized at Pleasant View Church of Christ in March of 1983.
Donna worked many years as a chairside dental assistant beginning her career at Dr. Smith’s in Dowagiac until he retired, then for Dr. Burling and Dr. Gillette in Dowagiac. She also worked a few years at Groner Funeral Home doing various jobs, and McCanse Chiropractic in Dowagiac. For several years, she was the office manager for Grover’s Repair Service, their family-owned heavy equipment repair business.
Donna and Joe wintered many years in Florida. They moved to North Carolina in 2017 when the trips to Florida got to be too stressful. In 2023, after a diagnosis and initial treatments for cancer, Donna said she wanted to move back to Michigan to be near her family. In the summer of 2023, her daughter, Kimberly, sold her house in North Carolina and bought a home in Cassopolis. Joe and Donna sold their house in North Carolina and the three of them moved into Kim’s new house in Cassopolis in September, 2023. Donna loved her family and one of her joys in life were her many beautiful flower beds that she meticulously and lovingly cared for and groomed. Joe and Donna spent many years and lots of sweat and hard work remodeling each of their homes starting with an old farmhouse in Dowagiac. Donna had an eye for antiques and design and she incorporated the two into her homes. She enjoyed crafting, furniture refinishing, and she was a 4-H leader teaching macramé and dried flower arranging when her kids were young. Donna was a military wife of 42 years. She was a member of the Dowagiac Armory’s 246th Women’s Auxiliary and the 246th Armor Association decorating committee.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Willard and Gladys Parish; her sisters, Audrey Parish, Rosetta Parish Treen, Ethel (Gene) Murphy, and Caroline (William C) Fisher; her two brothers, Norman (Bonita) Parish, and Don Parish; and her two great granddaughters, Faith Matthews and Isabella Pellett.
Surviving is her husband of 64 years, Charles “Joe” Grover; her daughters, Kimberly (the late Joe Gill Sr.) Matthews, and Kelly (Russell) Benjamin, all of Cassopolis, Mi; her “bonus daughter”, Kelly (the late Michael) Cheney, Niles, MI; her grandchildren, Keith (Anna Wurz) Matthews, Teri (Robert) Peters, Krys (Rob) Myers, Joshua (Audrea Labadie) Anders, Schyler (Chris) Pellett, Kaylene Kirby, and John Benjamin; her great grandchildren, Lucas Matthews, Benjamin Matthews, Haileahy (Nathan Hammond) Peters, Abigail (Andrew Hannafius) Peters, Milana Peters, Morgan Myers, Devon Myers, Alexander Kaleward, Bailey Myers, Dillyn Myers, Erik Kaleward, Ethan Kaleward, Vincent Anders, Jennifer Pellett, Layton Pellett, Penelope Pellett, Rowena Pellett, and Nora Kirby Venzon; and two great, great granddaughters, Freyja Hammond and Charlie Hannafius. Donna is also survived by her best friend of more than 70 years and “2nd Mom” to Kim and Kelly, Jeri Christensen, Dowagiac, Mi; and her dear friend, Barb Fox. Over the years, many kids have lovingly called her “Mom”, “Nana” or “Nan”, as she was known by all of her grand and great grandkids.
Cremation has taken place and the family is planning a memorial celebration of life, date and location not yet determined. Announcements will be made as soon as final arrangements are completed. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks Family Funeral Homes-Clark Chapel, Dowagiac, 269-782-2135.