LaDonna Kolman-Reyes

LaDonna Kolman-Reyes, 66, of Winthrop Harbor, Ill., passed to her heavenly father on January 7, 2015 following a courageous battle with cancer at her home in Winthrop Harbor, surrounded by her husband Gerry, her mother, and members of her family. LaDonna was born on Nov 4, 1948 in Belleville, Ks. to Joseph and Doris (Bertram) Kolman. She grew up near Morrowville, Ks. until her family moved to Washington, Ks. while LaDonna was still in Elementary school. She graduated from Washington High School in 1966. She was the eldest of 7 children and the first of her family to attend college. She graduated Kansas State University with a degree in General Home Economics in 1970, then completed a Nursing major at Kansas University's Medical Center in Kansas City and obtained her Masters in Nursing at Memphis University, Memphis, Tenn. In the early 70’s LaDonna volunteered as a cook and counselor at Camp Merry Heart in New Jersey. This was a summer camp sponsored by Easter Seals for Handicapped Children age 5 and above. Later she became a staff nurse at the KU Med Center and at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. She also did Public Health Nursing in Goodland, Ks. and Celina, Tenn. In the Late 80’s she moved to the Philippines to become a missionary nurse. She learned the Cebuano Language and became proficient at speaking the language. While there, she met Gerry Reyes and they were married in the Davao City, Philippines on April 3, 1993. They moved to Hamilton, Mo., where LaDonna again did Public Health Nursing. She then accepted a job as a civilian nurse with the Navy. Her expertise was working with young mothers with small children. She was assigned to the Sasebo Naval Base in Japan from 2000 to 2006. She and her husband were transferred to Winthrop Harbor (north of Chicago) in 2006 where she was employed at the Great Lakes Naval Base. She retired from Nursing on November 30, 2014. LaDonna attended and gladly participated in the activities of the churches in Washington, Ks. Johnson County Ks., Goodland, Ks. Cookeville, Tenn., Davo City, Philippines, Cameron, Mo., Sasebo, Japan and Winthrop Harbor, Ill. She and her husband enjoyed their backyard garden, doing missionary work, supporting missionary projects and took four mission trips with their church. LaDonna was preceded in death by her father in 1986 and her brother Charles in 2007. She is survived by her husband Gerry, of Winthrop Harbor, Ill., her mother, 3 sisters and 2 brothers. Her mother Doris Kolman still lives on the family farm at Washington, Ks. Mary Lou (Bill) Walter, Washington Ks. and Julie and Brian. Beverly Kolman, Wichita, Ks. Irene (Bill) Shepherd, Kansas City, Mo., and Brian and Jennifer. John (Jutta) Kolman, Grand Rapids, Mich. Kenny (Shirley) Kolman, Valley Center, Ks. and Chad and Tiffany. LaDonna planned, participated in, and enjoyed her Celebration of Praise to God Service at Northpoint Christian Church in Winthrop Harbor, Ill., on Friday, January 2, 2015. She was surrounded by her family and many friends from the area. Visitation was Sunday, Noon to 8 p.m. at Ward Funeral Home in Washington. The family received friends from 4 to 5 p.m. A funeral service was held at 10 a.m., Monday, January 12 at the Washington Christian Church in Washington, Ks., with Pastor Jim Stark officiating. Burial was in the Morrowville Cemetery, Morrowville, Ks. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of LaDonna Kolman-Reyes, please visit our flower store.