Donna J. Grunder

The best “Nana”, Donna Jo (Goers) Grunder, passed away Friday, December 12, 2025, surrounded by her loving family in Shelbyville, Illinois. Donna was born on May 11, 1959, in Shelbyville, Illinois to Richard and Arlene (Laatsch) Goers. Donna attended Shelbyville High School and graduated from St. Mary of the Woods College.

Donna’s life was focused on her two daughters- Jennifer Anne (Lloyd) Ericksen and Sara Elizabeth (Jamie) Sharp. Donna raised her daughters in Holy Cross Lutheran Church and the three of them shared countless adventures as the girls grew up in Shelbyville, Illinois- from forced matching outfits to driving to California together. Donna moved to Springfield, Illinois in 1997 to pursue her career as a paralegal. While living in Springfield, Donna met the love of her life, Timothy Grunder, and the two of them were married on February 25, 2006. From that union, Donna was blessed with three step-children- Melissa (Jeff) Bloom, Jessica (Zack) Stackle and Bey Grunder. Donna retired from working for the State of Illinois Office of the Inspector General in 2021. Donna always wanted to live near the ocean, so she and Tim bought their dream retirement home and moved to Yulee, Florida in July 2023. Donna’s fight with brain cancer also started July 2023, and she bravely fought this disease for 2.5 years to give us all more time with “Nana”.

Donna loved gardening, canning, cooking, baking her famous tower of Christmas cookies every year, and any excuse to see her grandchildren. Donna was the Nana who always said yes- building a fort behind the couch was never a problem at Nana’s house, ice cream became a “dairy” food appropriate for breakfast, and the cookies flowed like wine. Donna was always up for a trip to the waterpark with her grandchildren, and her famous red velvet cake and pumpkin bread will forever make us hope to find just one more tucked away in the freezer.

Donna is survived by her loving husband, Tim; daughters, Jennifer (Lloyd) and Sara (Jamie); stepchildren, Melissa (Jeff), Jessica (Zack) and Bey; mother, Arlene Goers; father, Richard (Sharon) Goers; sister, Debbie Weinstock; grandchildren, William Bendler, Iris Nelson, Eva Sharp and Cora Sharp; step-grandchildren, Ethan Ericksen, Keaton Bloom, Rhett Stackle, Ella Bloom and Charlotte Bloom. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Eric and Edna Goers and William and Alma Laatsch, and several aunts and uncles.

The family would like to thank the staff at Shelbyville Manor for their loving care during Donna’s final months. Per Donna’s wishes, a memorial service will be announced at a later time with memorials to benefit a local animal shelter. Arrangements are by Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL.