Donna Ellen Holm

Donna Ellen (Richardson) Holm, age 89, passed away on March 9, 2025, at the Crown Point, Indiana home she shared with her son, Tim. Born on July 12, 1935, in Gary, Indiana, she lived a life full of fun, family, and friendship. Donna was preceded in death by her parents, William “Buddy” and Lucile (Matthews) Richardson; husband, Herman, and son, Todd Holm. Donna is survived by her son, Timothy; sisters, Roberta “Bobee” (George) McEwan (Florida) and Jan (Randy) Zulich (Hawaii); daughter-in-law, Jacqueline (Todd); grandchildren: Mitchell (Jennifer), Madison (John), Megan Holm (all from Michigan) and Courtney (Indiana). At the time of her passing, Donna was merely days from meeting her first great-grandchild, Carter Jo Holm. She is also survived by nephews, Brian and Robert (Florida), Evan (California) and niece, Amber (Hawaii), and five great-nieces and nephews. Throughout her almost 90 years, Donna was a profoundly social person. It can be said that she never met a stranger; her outgoing and fun-loving personality made even new acquaintances feel comfortable as Donna easily engaged them in friendly conversations. A class officer and proud 1953 graduate of Horace Mann High School, she belonged to the Jinx social club and was selected by her classmates as the Senior with the prettiest smile. She began working at U.S. Steel as a young adult, during which time she expanded her circle of friends by joining the philanthropic and social Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority, Gamma Mu chapter. In 1959, Donna married her sweetheart Herman Holm, who was on leave from the U.S. Navy, and moved to California to set up their first home on the China Lake base. After returning to Indiana a few years later, the couple started a family which soon became Donna’s entire focus. Throughout the years, she supported their two sons in numerous school-related and extracurricular activities, planned family trips, maintained close ties with family and old friends, hosted numerous neighborhood gatherings, and returned to the workforce at L.S. Ayres. In 1987, the Holm family moved to Lakeland, Florida to be closer to Donna’s grandparents, mother, and sister Bobee. Her husband of nearly 48 years passed away in 2007. Donna continued her retail career for more than 20 years and retired in 2010 as a celebrated sales manager at Macy’s. Donna’s apparent leadership qualities earned her several awards, while her sociable demeanor prompted her to organize a group of coworkers who called themselves the YaYas. These women not only met for monthly lunches but also sponsored drives to support the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots. Donna was an avid sports fan who could report team standings and player statistics from memory. She thoroughly enjoyed several college and professional sports, including baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and golf. Her Chicago-area roots blended with her Florida residence in her choice of favorites. Often, phone calls were discouraged because she had to cheer for the Cubs, Rays, Bears, Buccaneers, Bulls, Magic, Blackhawks, Lightning, or Tiger Woods. There were many football pools and March Madness bets over the years as well. Donna was a spirited soul who also loved the excitement of casino gambling and enjoyed a few margaritas in her time on earth. She had a flair for turning even a simple meeting into a party. Always ready with a bright smile, our dear Donna was known for her generosity and love for family. For those of us who knew and loved her, the smooth baritone of an Elvis song or jangly music of a slot machine will remind us forever that we have been fortunate, indeed. Burns Funeral Home & Crematory, Crown Point, IN, entrusted with arrangements. www.burnsfuneral.com

Donna Ellen Holm

July 12, 1935 - March 9, 2025