Donna was born in Eldorado, MO, on September 4, 1941, the daughter of Henry D. and Nettie (Adams) Werner. Her family moved to Tama, IA, where she graduated from Tama High School in 1959. Donna was a hard worker. In high school, she worked as a waitress and at a candy kitchen and earned $5 a month. Having grown up sewing many of her own clothes, she was so proud to have saved up and bought a brand-new pink graduation dress, new shoes and nylons with her earnings. Following graduation, she moved to Marshalltown, IA, where she worked detasseling corn before starting work at Marshalltown Instruments and later Lowe’s Flowers.

Donna had two children, Renee (Sebetka) Mathews and Douglas Sebetka, with her first husband, Stanley Sebetka. Donna married her second husband, Robert “Bob” Atha, in 1982, and they were blessed to have spent 35 loving years together. Donna and Bob had a dream to build their own business and bought open pasture on West Main Street in Marshalltown, IA, where they planted thousands of apple trees. They built many structures on the land, including a large gift shop and private residence and founded their home-grown business, Appleberry Farm. Their beloved business included an apple orchard, produce gardens and a gift shop. Donna and Bob loved providing fresh produce options to the community and seeing the enjoyment on so many customers’ faces. Donna and Bob owned and operated Appleberry Farm until moving to Texas in 2016.

Donna was a nature lover and a talented crafter. She felt most at home in her garden or her sewing room. Donna loved creating seasonal crafts and hand-sewn critters, which she sold in the Appleberry Farm gift shop and lovingly gave to many family members and friends. She had a love for collecting fabrics, fall decorations and vintage treasures. She enjoyed going to flea markets and garden centers. She passed on her love for crafting to her daughter and granddaughters and delighted in sharing her passion with the younger generation.

Donna will live on in the hearts of her surviving family: son Doug Sebetka, daughter Renee (Sebetka) Mathews, stepsons Stuart (Darlene) Atha and Paul (Julia) Atha, grandchildren: Tyler (Brighid) Mathews, Alyssa Mathews, Olyvia Mathews, Kristen (Eric) Sager, Joshua (Joanna) Atha, Maxwell Atha, Chloe Atha, Nicholas Atha and Austin Atha, seven great grandchildren, sister JoAnn Kriegel, and many nieces and nephews.

In death, Donna is reunited with her husband, Robert “Bob” Atha, parents Henry D. and Nettie Werner, brothers Russell Werner, Henry R. Werner and Bill Werner, sister Nancy Fowler, stepson Mark Atha, granddaughter Bailey Mathews and great grandson Daniel Sager.