Donna Scott

Donna Scott, 91, died on July 16, 2024 at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, of complications of aspiration pneumonia and old age. She lived such a long life, and she enjoyed just about every minute of it.

Donna May Schuster was born in Buffalo, NY, in 1933, to Frank Gordon Schuster and Orpha Stegmann Schuster. Donna’s parents had already had two boys, Gordon and Bob, and since Prohibition ended in 1933, it was always speculated that Donna was conceived because of that. (Even though the math doesn’t work out exactly right, it’s always been a fun speculation!) 

Donna lived in Buffalo for a couple years, then St. Joseph, Missouri, and then the family moved to Cincinnati when she was 3. Her father became a manager for Bakers Shoes, and with that came lots more moving around. The family went from Cincinnati to Kansas City by the time she was 5, and then to Cleveland, and eventually to Davenport for her years at Smart Junior High and Davenport High School, now Central. Donna always thought that she missed out on some school skills because, for example, she’d skipped over some math learning entirely because of all the moves the family had made. Nevertheless, she thrived by the time she reached Davenport High School and made fast friends that lasted a lifetime. From high school she went on to Iowa State University, where she declared an art major. Her first year at Iowa State she was Harvest Queen. Then she then became Veishea Queen in her sophomore year. Sadly, her time ended at Iowa State at the end of her sophomore year as her mother died of cancer and Donna was compelled to move back home to help take care of her father.

Donna lived a full, young adult life; she trimmed windows at the downtown Davenport Petersen Harned Von Maur and put her art and design skills to work. She had dated and had become engaged to a young man. At the same time she was trimming windows at Von Maur, another certain young man, Joe Scott, had gone to the seminary in Dubuque. He was trying to fulfill what he thought was supposed to be his calling, but, as he put it, he flunked out. He liked girls too much. Donna and Joe met in 1955 while then both working at Petersen Harned Von Maur—Donna trimming those windows and Joe selling men’s shoes. Their meeting happened just several weeks before Donna was to be married to the other young man. She had to go out to New York to break off the marriage. Joe was then drafted into the Army at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, and Donna drove down to marry him in 1956 in a tiny ceremony attended by only 6 people. They then entered into their two-year honeymoon on the border of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez. This began their lifelong love of all Mexican food. Oh, and their daughter, Becca, was born in El Paso in 1957. Then, back to Davenport Donna, Joe, and Becca went in 1958.

Upon arrival back in Davenport, Donna then became Miss Donna on Romper Room in 1959-60. She loved everything having to do with Romper Room, from having all the kids around her every day to opening fan letters to getting to “see” children in her Magic Mirror and calling out different names every day. She said she was the one who made up her names list daily, and she always included names of those who wrote and requested it. She knows she didn’t get to say ALL names of ALL children out loud over her years on Romper Room, but she tried for a variety! Donna also helped teach a Head Start class at the Davenport Friendly House around 1965, when the program was getting its national start. She was also a fashion model who worked for the Ada Gaffney Shaff Company; she worked continually in the Quad Cities in the ‘60s and ‘70s in fashion shows, posing for magazine ads, doing commercials in the Quad City TV market, including voiceovers for Eagles and Lady Lee products. She loved her time working with Bill Mundy in his clothing store in downtown Davenport. She also organized and produced fashion shows for St. Lukes/Genesis Hospital and other organizations, while also later working for Fancy Filly.

Donna loved nothing more than being with family and friends. Son Tony came along in 1961 and daughter Jenny in 1965. Donna and Joe had an immense social circle that started with neighbors in their close-knit neighborhood and extended to family and also to all the teacher friends they had from Joe’s teaching years at West High, North High, and Central High Schools. They entertained family and friends all the time; there was always plenty of music, dancing, cocktails, and fun. They began a neighborhood 4th of July breakfast celebration in 1964 and continued throughout decades. Donna and Joe loved their home on Tremont Ave. and they worked continually over 60 years to make every inch of that house their own. Donna always made a warm and welcoming home. Fresh flowers were always picked and placed into vases to add to the beauty. Whenever she could, Donna watched Iowa Hawkeye football and basketball and took in baseball games of all kinds.

Those surviving Donna include the following: daughters Becca Scott Lindahl & Mark (Des Plaines, IL) and Jenny Scott Bakeris & Tom (Davenport); son Tony Scott (Davenport). Also grandson Joe Lindahl, Kelli, and Donna’s great grandsons Miles and Sawyer Lindahl (Park Ridge, IL); grandson Nick Bakeris, Rachel, and Donna’s great grandchildren Thomas and twins Evelyn & Louis (Johnston, IA); and grandson Tony Bakeris (Mitchellville, IA). As well, several nieces and nephews survive.

Donna was preceded in death by Joe in 2022, her husband of 65 years; her parents; and her two brothers, Gordon and Bob Schuster. 

Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Donna’s visitation will be held on Friday, July 19, from 9:00-10:00 am inside St. Anthony Catholic Church, 417 N. Main Street in Davenport, with a funeral mass immediately following at 10:00 am. The family and those interested will go to Mt. Calvary Cemetery for committal. Then after committal at Mt. Calvary, a light luncheon will be held immediately at the Grace Center at 5th and Main Street, close to St. Anthony.

In lieu of flowers for the funeral, the family encourages donations to the Humane Society of Scott County or to the McAnthony’s Window, care of St. Anthony Catholic Church. The family would like to thank Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House for their care for Donna in her final days.

Donna’s life was filled with family, friends, dogs-dogs-dogs, kids, grandkids and great grandkids, and good food & drink, as well as a love for music, musicals, and the fine arts. She loved her modeling years, loved cooking, and loved her crossword puzzles & sports watching. She leaves us many happy memories.