Donna Sue (Schoenthaler) Scheele passed away June 30, 2024 at Good Shepherd Hospice house in Manhattan, KS at the age of 56. She was born October 17, 1967 in Hays, KS to Oscar & JoAnn Schoenthaler. She was raised on the family farm and graduated salutatorian from Ellis High School in 1986. She then attended Kansas State University and graduated in 1990.
She was united in marriage to Steve Scheele on May 19, 1990 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis. Their marriage bore 3 children and they were later divorced.
Donna spent 25 years working at United Bank & Trust. She held multiple positions and was vital to the day to day operations. She finished her career as Community Bank President of the Manhattan branch. She was also elected President of the Downtown Manhattan Inc. Board of Directors and loved contributing to her community.
She was a lover of nature and the outdoors. An avid bird watcher, she spent many weekend mornings scouting out the birds on her back porch. She enjoyed hiking the Konza prairie and other trails of Kansas. She and her family and friends took many trips to Colorado to explore the mountains. She was also an avid kayaker.
When she wasn’t outdoors, Donna could be found helping her family and friends in any way she could, especially if the task called for something creative. She could always be counted on for planning a birthday party or decorating a cake, sewing a Halloween costume from scratch, or building swing sets and loft beds. She had a special love of spending time with her three granddaughters and shared many of her creative talents with them whenever they were visiting.
She is survived by her children Damen (Erica) Scheele and Jensen (Jason) Scheele-Foster; grandchildren Aubree, Lily, and Riley; mother JoAnn Schoenthaler; siblings Doug (Donna) Schoenthaler, Arthur (Sandy) Schoenthaler, Mary Jo (John) Walz, and Peggy (Troy) Rupp as well as many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by father Oscar, brothers James & Mark, and infant son Tyler.
The family will greet friends during a visitation from 6:00 until 8:0p.m. Friday July 5, 2024 at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan.
Funeral Services will be at 10:00a.m. Saturday July 6, 2024 at the Westview Community Church in Manhattan. Graveside services will be at 4:00p.m. Saturday at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Ellis, Kansas.
Memorials may be directed to Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas, for benefit of Friends of Konza Prairie and Downtown Manhattan Inc.
Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com