Donna Lou VanPelt

As Donna would always say, in every life a little rain must fall, and today the rain falls from our eyes as we grieve the loss of our beloved Donna Lou Mason VanPelt, who passed peacefully in her home of Leawood, Kansas on Wednesday January 10th. Our loss on Earth is Heaven’s gain, as Donna’s spunky and witty personality was so very loved by each and every life she touched here on Earth. We find peace knowing that Donna now joins her beloved daughter, Sherri, in Heaven.

Donna was born on October 19th 1934 to Ralph & Lila Mason of Omaha, Nebraska and was the 3rd of 5 siblings; Beverly Patterson, Bob Mason, Joan Rose (Deceased), and Lois Anderson. Donna spent much of her adolescence rescuing and tending to animals on her family’s farm in Ashland, Nebraska, which is where her love for animals blossomed.

Donna was extremely fond of and often reminisced about her time working as a stewardess for TWA airlines, which was headquartered in and brought her to Kansas City, MO, where she met and married Carlton C. VanPelt. Together they raised three children in Prairie Village, Kansas; Dr. Scott VanPelt of Monument Colorado, Stacy Pickering (Curtis Pickering) of Overland Park, Kansas, and Sherri Kelso (deceased) of Olathe, Kansas. Donna leaves behind 8 grandchildren: Ashli Kelso Grbac, Kris Kelso, Sophie Pickering, Madison Kelso, Hannah Pickering, Sierra VanPelt, Lauren VanPelt, and Logan VanPelt. She also leaves behind 4 great-grandchildren: Charlotte, Cooper, Granite & Gracelyn Grbac.

In her free time, Donna enjoyed sewing and painting, she was a talented artist who, much like Vincent Van Gogh, did not recognize her own talent for watercolor and oil painting. However, her beautifully crafted paintings of birds bees and flowers alike can be found in almost every room of her daughter’s and grandchildren’s homes. The magic of her hands could also be recognized through her love of gardening and all things green; she had a talented green thumb and neighbors were often jealous to witness the bountiful success of her garden that sprang to life each year.

Donna had a wicked sense of humor, today we can still hear her laugh from the heavens as she watches over us and probably continues to worry about the safety of her offspring. Her spunky personality and quick wit meant she always had something to say, and we enjoyed hearing her stories as she so often loved to share. She was so very near and dear to her family, who lovingly called her “Mimi”, and will be forever cherished as the kind, animal-loving soul that she is. As Mimi would always say, when it rains, it pours, and today our hearts are pouring over the loss of our beloved. But, if Mimi were still here today, she’d likely say, “it builds character” and tell us to pray. So today, we pray, as we forever have our Mimi ingrained into our hearts.

# IN EVERY LIFE A LITTLE RAIN MUST FALL

# IT BUILDS CHARACTER

# WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS