Donna

Phillips

Donna Jane Phillips, 84 years old, of Anita, Iowa, passed away at the Cass County Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa, at 2 pm on Saturday, September 26.

Donna Jane Shinkle was born on May 5, 1942, on the farm northeast of Orient, Iowa, to Kenneth and Grace Shinkle.

Donna attended and graduated from Richland Community Schools in 1959. After high school, Donna attended the Commercial Extension Program in Omaha for secretarial training. She worked at Montgomery Wards in Creston.

She met her husband Jim at a dance in Menlo, Iowa, and they married about a year later on March 12, 1961. Jim and Donna had three wonderful children: Michelle Cave (Don) of Marcus, Iowa, Scott (Candy) of Maple Grove, Minnesota, and Teresa Cole (Steve) of Rochester, Minnesota.

Donna was a stay-at-home mom until the kids were in school. Then she worked at Lantz & Jensen’s Grocery store for 20 years.

She was a longtime member of the Anita United Methodist Church. Among other church activities, she taught Sunday school, vacation Bible school, and the children’s music time and was a member of Women of Faith.

Over the years, Jim and Donna enjoyed going out west to Montana and Idaho for family reunions. They enjoyed their 26th wedding anniversary in Hawaii. They also made many trips to Minnesota and NW Iowa to visit their kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.

Donna was proud to shop in Anita her entire married life and much of her free time was spent trying to keep husband Jim doing what he was supposed to be doing (like not eating too much salt.)

She was also known for her letter-writing ministry. Donna took great pleasure in sending her shepherding notes associated with church, keeping connected with classmates and friends from her past, and staying in touch with family near and far.

Donna was known to have a green thumb. Not only did she take great pride in her flower gardens in the front yard, she also helped Jim in the vegetable garden, and kept numerous houseplants flourishing, namely her angel wing begonias.

If you knew Donna at all, you probably know the following things: she was a lifelong Republican, she treasured her memories of her year of playing high school basketball, and she was always eager to dance a few steps if she heard music with a good beat.

Donna and Jim celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this last March 12. Donna is preceded in death by: her parents Ken and Grace, a brother in infancy Donald, her older brother John, her younger brother Tom, and her sister Lolly, her in-laws Glen and Carol, sister-in-law Lil and brother-in-law Ron, brother and sister-in-law Larry and Joan, sister-in-law Mary Lou, son Scott, granddaughter Ashley Fisher, nephew Russell Wilson. She is survived by husband Jim, daughters Michelle and Teresa and spouses, eight grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren

Funeral Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 2, 2026 at the Anita United Methodist Church with Pastor Jessica Wietzke officiating. Burial will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita.

Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2026 at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Anita.

Memorials may be directed to the Donna Phillips Memorial Fund for future designation and can be sent in care of Schmidt Family Funeral Home to P.O. Box 523 Atlantic, IA 50022.

The Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Anita is caring for the Phillips family at this time.