Donna J. (Grinna) Blumhagen, 80, of Castalia, Iowa died Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Wellington Place in Decorah, Iowa. Donna Joan Blumhagen was born April 17, 1946, in Decorah, Iowa, the daughter of Vernon and Olive (Ramstad) Grinna. She was baptized and confirmed at Glenwood Lutheran Church in rural Decorah. Donna attended country school at the Frankville Schoolhouse and graduated from Postville High School in 1964.
Donna met and fell in love with Dennis Blumhagen at Art’s Roller Rink in Ossian, Iowa, at the tender age of 14. On July 1, 1967, they were married at Glenwood Lutheran Church in rural Decorah. The couple farmed and raised their four children north of Castalia, Iowa. Their support and commitment to each other through all of life’s ups and downs was a testament to their deep love for one another. They enjoyed celebrating all their life milestones with family and friends—the more, the merrier.
In addition to being a farm wife and mother, Donna worked as a secretary. During high school, she worked for attorneys Isadore Meyer and Joe Keefe. Following high school, she worked for Neal Sloan and Howard Ness at American Finance Company in Decorah and at Iowa State University Book Publishing in Ames. Her final place of employment was at South Winneshiek Elementary/Middle School in Ossian. She worked in the office from 1984 until her retirement in 2011.
Donna’s happy place was in the kitchen where she would hum as she baked pies and cookies and bars and other delicious desserts. She used her baking skills to show her love to family, friends, and neighbors. With Dennis, she enjoyed tending to their flower gardens and maintaining their “Prettiest Farm in Iowa” as highlighted in the Nov/Dec 2022 issue of Our Iowa magazine. Many fond memories were created when Dennis and Donna hosted numerous family reunions, barn dances, church services, and even a wedding reception in their Century Farm family barn. In October 2023, Donna and Dennis moved to Wellington Place in Decorah, Iowa due to health complications.
Donna is survived by her loving husband, Dennis Blumhagen; four children, Lisa Blumhagen and Thomas Fuhry of Valencia, Spain, Brian and Kristy Blumhagen of Ames, Iowa, Daniel and Gina Blumhagen of Bondurant, Iowa, and David and Kristen Blumhagen of Ankeny, Iowa; five grandchildren; Owen, Olivia, Josiah, Gideon, and Ethan; two step-grandchildren, Gavin and Sydney; a sister, Shirley (Bill) Holtey of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; a brother, Gary (Nancy) Grinna of Frankville, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am with a visitation from 9:30 am until time of service on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia, Iowa with Rev. Daryl Schultz as the officiant.
Burial will follow in the Bloomfield Cemetery, Castalia, Iowa.
To send flowers in memory of Donna Joan Blumhagen, please contact Blooms on Main in Ossian, Iowa. Alternatively, memorial contributions can be made to Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia, Iowa.
The family wishes to thank the medical professionals from Wellington Place, St. Croix Hospice, WinnMed, and Mayo Clinic for their many years of compassionate care toward Donna.
Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Postville, Iowa is assisting the family with Services.