Donna Marie Reardon

Reardon, Donna Marie Donna Marie Reardon (Mom) passed away on Thursday, December 2, 2021, in Manitowoc, WI. She was born in Pellston Michigan, on August 20, 1933, to the late Adam and Edith (Hills) Mallory. Economic times were tough in 1933, especially in Northern Michigan. Her family would soon move to Kalamazoo where Donna would remain a resident for most of her life. Donna was always ambitious. As a young woman, she worked several jobs while attending school and was active at the 3rd Street Community Center, run by Dick and Collete Noble. The Community Center was a big part of her youth as it was for many young people in the Washington Square neighborhood. This is where she met our Father and made several lifelong friends. A few months after graduating from Kalamazoo Central High School, Donna drove away in a borrowed Ford to marry the love of her life, Joseph (Joe) Reardon on August 22, 1951. They would create a family and remain happily married for more than 59 years. Donna was a stay home mom while her children were young but always found some way of stretching a buck or earning a few extra dollars to purchase something special for the family. Winning contests, delivering phone books, working lunch at Gull Road School, picking grapes with her sister Ruth, or putting up tomatoes, were just part of her creativity in making it all work. In between, she was the den Mother, brownie leader, Halloween costume creator, and seamstress. Donna was the home decorator, painter, upholsterer, gardener, and party planner. Mom's Christmas productions are the stuff of legend. Later, Donna worked as a production coordinator at the Kalamazoo Label Company. She enjoyed her work and the people she worked with. In addition to her job duties, unsurprisingly, she organized most of the company's social activities, picnics, birthday acknowledgments, retirements, or whatever the occasion called for. After retirement from Kalamazoo Label, Mom remained useful by volunteering. She could be found helping at the Loaves and Fishes, gardening at Bronson Park, or the W.K. Kellogg Mansion on Gull Lake. In the winter, Donna kept busy at Desert Sun Condominiums in Apache Junction Arizona. She spent over thirty winters at Desert Sun, where she made many friends from all over the US and Canada. Not surprisingly, she was the spark to many of the parties and pageants when not playing bingo, hiking, clogging, or line dancing. These were some of the best years of her life. At Desert Sun Donna was carefree and had a blast. Survivors include Donna's three children, Mark (Laurie) Reardon, Manitowoc, WI; Pam (Jon) DeBoer, Punta Gorda, FL; and Robin (Mike) Larkin, Syracuse, NY. She was proud of her seven grandchildren: Jullie Robbins, Brenda Schroeder, Joe DeBoer, Jon DeBoer, Mallory DePew, Eric Larkin, and Kevin Larkin; eight great-grandchildren: Maddie Robbins, Jack Robbins, Sam Schroder, Molly Schroeder, Riordan DePew, Rory DePew, Cora DePew, and Jack DeBoer; sister-in-law(s), Iola Mallory, and Joanie Mallory; also other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edith and Adam Mallory; brothers, Willis Mallory, Jerry Mallory, Jim Mallory, and sister, Ruth West. While living in Kalamazoo, Mom was blessed with many good friends. We would like to acknowledge a few who were special. Orin Armintrout was a gift to our family. Thank you, Orin, we will always be in your debt. We would also like to extend a special thank you to the Brown family: Mick, Diane, Cheryl, Randy, Jim, and Carmie - especially Carmie! Mom was blessed to have had a friend like Carmie. We should all be so lucky! Donna's heart was as big as the Grand Canyon she trekked. She never met a stranger and always…always did her best. She lived an exemplary life of integrity, full of hard work, and belly laughs. It was rich with music, flowers, and friends. Join us in a memorial service celebrating Donna's wonderful life. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at St. Andrews Community Church, 3631 Covington Road, Kalamazoo, MI. Pastor Jim Dyke will officiate the burial of Donna and Joseph Reardon. Immediately following the memorial service, a reception to celebrate Donna's life will be held at the church. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials in Donna's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 North Water Street, Manitowoc, WI 54220 is assisting with arrangements.