Donna Busch Heilman was born Donna Elaine Busch on February 10, 1961 in Phoenix, Arizona to Paul Johnson and Doris Emilie Busch (nee Vogel), who were high school sweethearts from Rock Rapids, Iowa. She became a child of God through Holy Baptism in 1961 at Christ Church Lutheran in Phoenix. She grew up in a very close-knit family, where she learned the values of faithfulness and forgiveness. They began to enjoy summers together at a mountain home in the woods of Pinewood, south of Flagstaff, Arizona. She was very active with the youth group at Christ.
Donna attended schools in Phoenix and graduated from Camelback High School in 1979. She got her college degree from Northern Arizona University in 1983. During here time there she was active at the Campus Christian Center. She then began working as a statistician at Armour-Dial, as well as doing volunteer work with the Braille Society. She enrolled in graduate school at Iowa State University in 1986, where she met her husband, Mark Thomas Heilman. After returning to Phoenix, she went through training to be a Stephen Minister.
Donna and Mark were married on December 27, 1987 at Christ Church Lutheran. She moved to Ames with him and joined Memorial Lutheran Church. Donna and Mark were blessed with three sons, Zach (1991), Joel (1993), and Luke (1997). Donna was a devoted mother to them, being the biggest witness in their lives to their Savior, Christ Jesus. She also worked many years as an aide and bookkeeper at St. Paul Lutheran Preschool in Ames. She was a good friend to her neighbors and a surrogate parent to her boys’ friends.
Donna loved to express herself through gardening, quilting, and many other craft activities. She was a devoted Iowa State athletic fan, especially women’s basketball.
Donna was diagnosed with cancer in June, 2021. Despite all that she went through during her treatments, she remained positive and was a loving witness to Christ. She died in the loving arms of her Savior, Jesus, at Israel Hospice House on May 10, 2025.
She was preceded in death by her parents and survived by her husband, her sons, daughters-in law Katie (Joel) and Sarah (Luke), grandchildren Oliver (Luke and Sarah) and Caleb (Joel and Katie), her siblings Sharyn, Lorna (Dennis), Doug (Dorothy), and David (Holly).
“The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
The family has requested that all memorials go to Memorial Lutheran Church in Ames to work together with St. Paul Preschool.