Eileen Donahue, 92, Wakonda, SD passed away Monday, March 14, 2016 at Wakonda Heritage Manor. On-Line Condolences may be left at Hansen Funeral Home.
Eileen Rose Fitzgerald was born October 2, 1923 at home in Mayfield Twp Yankton, South Dakota, the daughter of Nell Christopher and Mike Fitzgerald. She grew up in Mayfield and attended country school, Irene high school and graduated from Scotland in 1940. She studied two years at Mount Marty in Yankton and received a teaching certificate. She taught at country schools in the Mayfield area and one year at Wakonda. She married James W. Donahue of Wakonda June 25, 1947. James, who always called Eileen “Fitz” died April 10, 2011. They lived and farmed east of Wakonda and raised six children. She always had a large garden, many chickens and her children remember her delicious homemade bread.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, four brothers, Claire, Roy, Kenneth and infant Harold Fitzgerald, two sisters Veronica Freimuth and Colette Kehrwald and a grandson, Kevin Koenig. She is survived by two sons, Patrick (Teresa) Donahue of Wakonda, Jim Donahue, of San Francisco, CA, four daughters, Kathleen (Jim) Koenig, of Tyndall, Mary (Wayne) O’Connor, of Faribault, MN, JoEllen (Virgil) Klein of Dell Rapids and Brigetta (Steve) Klein of Sioux Falls, 16 grandchildren: Christine Schelske, John Donahue, Brian Donahue; Carolyn Gleason, Maureen McFarlane; Angela Cina, Mike O’Connor, Nicholas O’Connor, Maureen Hauge, James O’Connor; Sister Marie Estelle Klein O.C.D, Theresa Kutz, Erin Fernandez; Mary Wuestewald, Sister Laura Klein P.C. and Tony Klein; 17 greatgrandchildren; nieces and nephews.