Donna Louise Smucker, 93, died Feb. 16, 2025. She was born March 15, 1931, in Sugarcreek, Ohio. She was the daughter of Clayton and Sophia Gerber of Walnut Creek, Ohio, and married John Robert Smucker on July 21, 1956, at Walnut Creek Mennonite Church.  

An elementary education graduate of Goshen College, she was a teacher all her life and enjoyed teaching children in Sunday school well into her 80s. In the classroom, the church, at home with four children or interacting with her grandchildren and great-granddaughters, she enjoyed nurturing, encouraging and supporting everyone in her many circles of family and friends. 

She loved reading, quilting, hosting many guests for meals and sending cards and letters to keep up with family and church friends’ birthdays and milestones. Being a pastor’s wife, she made hospitality look easy and was known to bake two pies every Saturday for the inevitable Sunday company. She lived in many communities, including East Greenville, Ohio, Fort Wayne, Ind., Goshen, Ind., Sturgis, Mich., Harleysville, Pa., Berlin, Ohio, and Manson, Iowa, finally settling back in Goshen in 1988. Her family will miss her spunk, her infectious laugh and her creative way of engaging telemarketers.

She is survived by two sisters, Nancy (Dick) Graber of Salem, Mo., and Margaret (Brian) Stoltzfus of Goshen. Donna and John were parents to four children, Elisabeth (Michael) Grieser of Goshen, John David (Beth) Smucker of Goshen, Emily (Lorin) Beidler of Lancaster, Pa., and Steve (Judy) Smucker of Huntsville, Texas. They enjoyed their 10 grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.

Memorial contributions can be sent to Amigo Centre or Mennonite Central Committee.