Donnavon Elaine Eaker, 72, of Ellendale, died Thursday, March 3, 2022 at Methodist Hospital in Rochester.
She was born February 9, 1950 in Fort Dodge, Iowa the daughter of Donald and Ada (George) Colee. She moved to Minnesota in 1956 to the Bixby/Claremont area. During her junior year of high school, she became sweet over her neighbor from one mile away, Steve Eaker. She graduated from Claremont High School in 1968 and then attended beauty school in Faribault. On August 30, 1969, she married Steven Eaker at St. John’s Lutheran Church rural Claremont. The couple lived in St. Paul and worked in the Twin Cities. In 1972, Michelle entered their lives and in 1973 the family moved to Ellendale. They purchased Pete and Rube’s Market and it became known as the legendary Steve’s Meat Market. In 1974, Rachael joined the family. Steve and Donnavon successfully operated the business together. After Steve’s death in 2006, Donnavon and Rachael kept the fine quality smoked meats business alive and running. She celebrated the 49th anniversary of the business in January, 2022.
Service to her church and community was important to Donnavon. She faithfully served in her church as a Sunday School teacher and was involved in Wednesday school and the Luther League program. Her community involvement included 4-H, Ellendale-Geneva High School yearbook and the Junior Achievement program at the school for many years. Her biggest passion was leading the Ellendale Days committee and organizing the Ellendale centennial. Business service included serving on the Owatonna Hospital board and the boards of both the Minnesota Association of Meat Processors and the American Association of Meat Processors.
Donnavon loved flower gardening, taking pictures, chatting with her sister, Marcia, and spending as much time with the grandchildren as she could. If you knew Donnavon, you know she loved spending time at her home in Florida and traveling the world with friends.
She is survived by daughters, Michelle (Frank) Steever of Cranston, RI, and Rachael (Mark) Lee of Ellendale; granddaughter, Genevieve Steever and grandsons, Daxter Lee, Gavin Steever and Jared Lee; half-brother, Don Tool and sisters, Kathy Macey, Joyce (Louis) La Moore and Marcia (Donny) Smith.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Ada and husband, Steven Eaker.
Visitation was at Michaelson Funeral Home on Monday, March 7 from 4-7 p.m. Visitation continued at First Lutheran Church - Ellendale on Wednesday from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at 3:30 p.m. at First Lutheran Church – Ellendale. Interment in First Lutheran Cemetery in Ellendale immediately followed by a lunch reception at the Community Building in Ellendale.
Memorials are preferred to Ellendale Community Action Group, First Lutheran Church in Ellendale and Trinity Lutheran Church in Medford.