Donna Jean Tipton

Donna J. Tipton, 64, of Williamsburg, Kansas, passed away Sunday, December 1, 2024, at home surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral services will be held 2:00pm. Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa.

Family will greet friends from 6:00-8:00pm, Monday, December 9, 2024, at the mortuary. 

Interment at Mt Hope Cemetery in Williamsburg, Kansas.

She was born on Saturday, April 30, 1960 in Wamego, Kansas, the daughter of Gearld Dea and Carol (Hudson) Sartain. She was a resident of Williamsburg since 1985, moving there from Newton, Kansas.

Donna attended Ottawa High School, later receiving her G.E.D, and earned a nail technician certificate from Johnson County Community College.

On Monday, July 11, 1977, Donna was united in marriage with Samuel E. Tipton at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas. He preceded her in death on January 13, 2024. 

She worked eleven years as a clerk for Valovine Express and since 2012, followed by being self-employed with her husband until 2022 when she began working as a “LUNCH LADY” at Williamsburg Elementary School with her best friend, Carolyn Rhoads, and most recently was employed by Thermo-Fisher Scientific.

Along with her husband Sam, she was preceded in death by her parents Jim and Carol Gruhle; father Gerald Sartain; sister Terri Sartain; and step brother Tom Tessendorf.

Donna is survived by her companion Larry Hawkins; daughters Amy Carlson (Matthew) of Williamsburg, Kansas, Amanda Stinebaugh (John) of Williamsburg, Kansas, and Angela Magrath (Josh) of New Hope, Pennsylvania; step-daughter Teresa Tucker (Seth) of Princeton, Kansas; brothers Ronnie Sartain of Newton, Kansas, and Jr. Sartain of Newton, Kansas; sister Annie Clark of Moundridge, Kansas; step sisters B J Krogemeier of Newton, Kansas, and Phyllis Troblevich of Newton, Kansas; step brothers Doug Tessendorf of Newton, Kansas and Dennis Tessendorf of Newton, Kansas; eleven grandchildren; and one great-grand daughter. 

The family suggests memorial contributions to CONNECT Mobile Food Pantry c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 South Hickory Street, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.

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