Donna Jean Walkowsky passed away at her North Cove home Sept. 5, 2015 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s, and after losing her beloved husband Baldy in December of 2014. She was 80 years old. Donna was preceded in death by her parents Henry T. Davidson and Magnolia “Maggie” Davidson, her sister Phyllis Davidson Cumlander, and her former daughter in law, Julie Walkowsky.
She is survived by her two sons and their partners; Lee and Kathy Walkowsky and Greg Walkowsky and Linda Jester, and four granddaughters, Kara Walkowsky Krenz, Tiana Walkowsky, Kelly Walkowsky Otterstetter and Tihele Walkowsky, as well as four great-grandchildren, Dylan Gregory Krenz, Emma Lee Donna Krenz, Janessa Lynn Otterstetter and Karissa Lee Otterstetter.
Donna Jean Davidson was born Jan. 16, 1935, to Henry and Maggie Davidson and her big sister Phyllis. She was known throughout her youth and until her death as a kind and friendly soul. She was always smiling and positive. Donna was part of the cheer squad in her years in high school, until she met and married the love of her life, Ernest “Baldy” Walkowsky, when she was just 17, on Oct. 18, 1952, eight days after Baldy turned 18.
Baldy was a commercial fisherman, and was able to purchase his and Donna’s home on Alexson Road in North Cove, where they both resided until their departures. By 1953, Donna gave birth to their first son, Lee Alven Walkowsky. Donna stayed home as a housewife, caring for Lee while Baldy was on the ocean. In 195,6 Baldy and Donna welcomed their second son, Greg Allen Walkowsky, to their family. Donna was a doting and devoted mother.
By the time both kids were in school, Donna decided to go to work and did so at Ocean Spray Cranberries in Markham in 1965. She enjoyed her many years there and made many, many friends that she loved like family.
Eventually, Lee and Greg both took wives and both had two daughters. Donna felt so blessed to have granddaughters after having two boys. She was a loving, giving, sweet grandmother. Greg and his wife Julie made their home next door to Baldy and Donna, providing his daughters Kara and Kelly with the benefits and extra love of having doting grandparents right next door. Lee’s family, wife Kathy and daughters Tiana and Tihele, moved to California, and split a lot of their time in Alaska, always swinging through to visit Donna and Baldy, can tuna with them and spend family time.
After 30 years at Ocean Spray, Donna retired in 1995, shortly after the birth of her first great-grandchild.
To say that Donna was a lover of animals would be not sufficient to explain the love, compassion and devotion she and Baldy both felt toward all animals. People came to know this about them, and would often times dump their animals off at Donna and Baldy’s, and they would always take them in. Donna would literally stay up nights making sure all the cats got in the house before she would go to sleep.
After retirement, Donna enjoyed going to the casino to play Keno, lunching with her fantastic group of lady friends, watching her soap operas, gardening and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Donna was a hard-working, loving, devoted woman, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She is greatly missed.