Donna Jean Hamby

Donna Jean Hamby, 79, died peacefully at her home in Madison, Alabama on September 03, 2020. She was the youngest of nine children born to Archie J. McDonald and Thelma Achterbery in Madison, Wisconsin on February 18, 1941. A graduate of Pardeeville High School in Pardeeville, Wisconsin, she retained her country roots, even while living for many years in the San Francisco Bay area. Donna was a distinguished civilian employee of the U.S. Army for over 57 years, receiving many awards and accommodations for her service. She began working for the government at Fort Sheridan, Illinois in 1955. In 1972 Donna transferred to The Presidio Army Base in San Francisco, California and later to Redstone Arsenal in Madison, Alabama where she worked until she retired in November 2012.

After her retirement Donna became a volunteer at Huntsville Hospital in Madison for the Women’s and Children Neonatal Intensive Care Cuddler Program where she would spend her time cuddling and caring for intensive care infants. It was her passion, and she took pride in it. She also enjoyed traveling, sailing, reading books on her Kindle, going to matinee movies, and sitting in the back row so that she wouldn't need to listen to other patrons’ chatter. She enjoyed entertaining her friends over home cooked meals with plenty of libations. Most of all she loved her family and friends, and the home she had worked so hard for.

Donna is survived by two brothers Robert McDonald of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Morris McDonald of Elkhorn, Wisconsin and two sisters Lou Ann Allen of Lake George Colorado and Beverley Johnson of Wonder Lake, Illinois. and her two sons Dan Andrew of Marengo, Illinois, Robert Hanna of Sonoma, California and her two daughters Kim Strane of Menlo Park, California, and Carrie Atteberry of Vacaville, California. Donna had eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. At Donna's request no service was held, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Metavivor