“….With the 1st Overall Pick in the Pearly Gates Draft, The Lord in Heaven’s Team selects….Joe Donner: Father, Grandfather, Fisherman, Man of Wisdom, Hardest worker on Earth.”
On May 18, 2024, The Lord called His Son, Joseph Ervin Donner, home, to play for His best team in Heaven. He was 85 years young.
In his youth, he served in the Army. He held positions at Columbus McKinnon as a Welder, , a Custodian at First Baptist Church of NT, NY, a press Operator/Supervisor at Matrix, and a driver for Medical Motors. Outside of full-time employment, he has served as a Softball Coach, a Deacon, and Awana Commander. His interests included:
Fishing, hunting, casino visits and sports, specifically Buffalo sports, most importantly his Buffalo Bills. He was always quick to crack a joke, but knew when to choose Firmness, and provide much needed wisdom. He loved his time with friends, many Fishing trips, Euchre games, and attending sporting events.
With the exception of his relationship with Christ, the most important part of his life was family. Everything he did outside the home was to provide for those he loved. He leaves behind a legacy of wisdom, laughter, and love to all those he loved.
He is preceded by: First wife, Lorraine Kathleen Donner (Norris), second wife, Helga Kinnear, his brothers, Henry “Buck”, Eugene, and Larry as well as Sisters, Florence, Izzy, and Mary. He is survived by his sister, Gloria [Dick] Vogt, and brothers, David [Donna] and Paul [Sam] Donner, Two Daughters, Paula Jean Lowe (Wayne), Gayle Elizabeth Klarowski (Ron), and 6 grandkids, Joey Zierath-Lowe [Jenny] Megan Hope (Gilbert) Gibson, Palm (Victoria) Zimmerman, Amber Joy Donner (Lowe), Eli Lowe, and Jackson Ellender. Bonus children, Colleen Kinnear [Luke] and Brett Kinnear [Lisa]
He is also survived by many nieces & nephews plus friends that were family to him. In Closing, Joe Donner will not be a man soon forgotten, and if the Buffalo Bills win the Super Bowl this year, we will know that he and God finally sat down and had a serious talk….. and Joe won. Go Bills!