Richard and LaDonna Robinson
A Memorial Service for Richard “Dick” Robinson, 95, and LaDonna Robinson, 89, both of Windom, was held at 10:30 a.m. Monday April 24, at the First Presbyterian Church in Windom with Pastor Bonnie Roys officiating. Burial with full military honors provided by American Legion Post 206 was in Lakeview Cemetery, Windom.
Richard died on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at the Good Samaritan Society – Sogge Memorial in Windom and LaDonna Robinson died on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at the Good Samaritan Society-The Village in Mountain Lake.
Richard “Dick” Luverne Robinson was born to Ivar and Margaret (Baier) Wallin on August 27, 1921. His mother died at an early age and left a family of eleven. As Ivar was unable to care for such a large family, the brothers and sisters went their separate ways. A local dentist and his wife took Dick into their home and raised him to manhood. The name change from Wallin to Robinson occurred during his early age.
LaDonna Pearl Robinson was born to Arthur and Hannah (Guhlke) Jeske on Sept. 3, 1927. She grew up on a farm near Comfrey, attended Comfrey country school and graduated from Comfrey High School. After high school, LaDonna attended Mankato Teachers College where she earned her degree.
Dick entered the U.S. Navy in January 1942. He served in the Southwest Pacific for two years. He was attached to the U.S. Marines during that time as a Navy Medic. He also served in the Korean War. Upon discharge in December 1945, Dick attended college for one year before going into the restaurant business where he met his wife, LaDonna, whom he married in October of 1947 at the Congregational Church in Comfrey. This marriage was blessed with three children, Sandy, Renee and Kirk. LaDonna worked at the drug store and was a hostess at the Driftwood near Windom while she raised her children. Dick worked in the grain business for 15 years. After that he was a sales rep for USS Agri-Chemicals for 18 years. They gave him early retirement in 1981. He then went on to work for the U.S. Postal Service for 16 years as a substitute rural mail carrier and later as a regular carrier. He retired in 1997.
LaDonna moved into the Good Samaritan Society-The Village of Mountain Lake in 2012 where she lived until her death on April 19, 2017
Dick moved into the Good Samaritan Society of Windom in February of 2017 where he lived until his death on April 19, 2017
Dick and LaDonna were members of the First Presbyterian Church in Windom where Dick was a trustee, deacon and an elder and LaDonna was a member of the Dorcas Circle. Dick was a member of the Windom School board for 12 years. He was also a member of the local Masonic Lodge, Zurhah Temple Shrine of Minneapolis, American Legion Post 206 and the Rural Letter Carriers. Dick and LaDonna loved playing cards, especially 500, gardening and reading. LaDonna enjoyed baking, cooking, needlework, and embroidery. Dick enjoyed sports and traveling and they both loved spending time with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Dick and LaDonna are survived by two daughters, Sandy (Peter) Frederixon of Apple Valley and Renee (Tom) Harnack of Windom; daughter-in-law, Jan Robinson of Colorado Springs, Colo.; eight grandchildren, Jennifer, Peter, Katy, Jason, Lindsay, Kim, Jessica and Kevin; nine great-grandchildren; LaDonna’s sister, Marlene Rathman of Springfield; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
They were preceded in death by their parents; son, Kirk Robinson; and Richard’s siblings: four brothers, Leonard, Allen, James and Marion and six sisters, Esther, Grace, Cleo, Mercedes, Margaret and Mildred.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of the LaCanne Family Funeral Service in Windom. Condolences can be sent online to www.lacannefuneralhome.com.