Donna Light

Obituary Donna M. (Eisenbise) Light.....



The Funeral Service for Donna M. Light will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, April 1, 2004 at Salem Lutheran Church. Pastor Glen Stevens will officiate. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, and one hour before the service at the church.

Donna passed on Sunday, March 28, 2004 in at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Frances Campus in Wichita, Kansas.

She was born on November 16, 1935, in Bricelyn, Minnesota to Leslie

B. and Amanda (Rake) Eisenbise.

She was baptized in the Bricelyn Lutheran Church.

She complete first grade at the Bricelyn School.

In 1942, she moved with her parents and brother to Albert Lea. She

was confirmed at Salem Lutheran Church in 1949. She graduated

from Albert Lea High School in 1953.

She was married to John E. Light on October 25, 1953, at Salem

Lutheran Church, Albert Lea.

To this marriage four children were born: Cindy (Gary) Wangen of

Freeborn, MN., Rick (Connie) Light of River Fall, WI., Alan Light

of Winona, MN., Dr. Cheryl Light Shriner (Dr. Jim Shriner) of Urbana, ILL.

She lived in Albert Lea most of her life except for 7 years in

Vernon Hills, ILL., a suburb of Chicago, as John was transferred with

Scotsman when the relocated there, a job John held with the company for

43 years. They retired in 1995 and moved back to Albert Lea.

The 7 years they resided in Vernon Hills, they were both active at Christ Lutheran Church serving in many capacities.

She started as a Pre-School Assistant at Christ Lutheran Church when

the School was just opening, and she held that position until moving

back to Albert Lea.

She also cared for a friends adopted daughter from Guademala for

five years. Donna has served on many boards and committees in the years she lived in Albert Lea. She had been a member of Salem Lutheran since 1948, attending there since 1947. She served on the Salem Church Council at various times and was a Bible Study Leader for the women?s group for many years. She wrote the Thank Offering Devotions for the Circles of

Salem for several years.

She served two terms as President of WELCA and Church Women United, and was a member of the Altar Guild for several years.

She served as chairperson for the Salem Stewardship Program for 3 years, a job she fully enjoyed and believed in giving abundantly of time, talent, and treasure to our Lord. She was a charter member of the area church?s Librarians. She served on the Board of the Freeborn County Red Cross as Publicity Reporter, and helped with the Bloodmobile for 15 years.

She and John served on the Lutheran Brotherhood Board, Branch 8482, several terms.

She was in the Hospice Volunteer Program at Naeve Hospital before her move to Illinois for 3 years. She enjoyed the years she planned the WELCA

Retreat each fall. She enjoyed researching and reading to plan a spiritual retreat and Bible Study. She loved her church and church family and enjoyed

working with people serving in His Kingdom.

Her greatest joys were her husband, children and grandchildren. She was so proud of seeing her children educated and choosing their careers, likewise her grandchildren. In 1989, she spent the year writing her autobiography.

She wanted her children to know something about their great grandparents and some history of the Eisenbise-Rake families. She gave copies to friends

and relatives.

The family traveled extensively all over the U.S. and took in the World's Fair in New York, Montreal, Spokane, and after the children had grown, John and Donna went to the World Fairs in Knoxville, Tennessee, and

Vancouver, Canada.

After retirement, they spent part of the winter in the South. She traveled to the Smoky Mountains each year for many years.

In 1978, they took John's mother and traveled to London, England and toured places that John's relatives lived.

In 2001, they took a trip to Mexico.

Donna was an avid reader and writer. She also enjoyed embroidering.

In 2003, Donna and John became members of Crossroads Evangelical Free

Church by profession of faith.

Surviving her are her husband, John, and her four children and their spouses.

Surviving grandchildren are Matthew Trettel, Blake Wangen,

Christin Light, Alissa Light, Jonathan Light, Scott Light, and Marshall

Shriner; brother Ronald Eisenbise, sisters: Sharon (Dennis) Overland, Albert Lea, Carmen (Tom) Erickson, Brooklyn Park, MN., La Rita (Danny) Chavez, of Las Vegas, NV., many nieces, nephews, and close friends

Preceding her in death were her father Leslie Eisenbise in 1988, her mother Amanda in 1990, a brother in infancy, and a niece Stephanie Kay Holway and a brother-in-law Alan Marcks.















To be remembered by:

I might have been a Broadway Star

Or a witty talk show hostess,

Or came up with a cure for colds

Or led a "no mike" protest

I might have played at Wimbelton,

In front of kings and queens,

Or made it big in fashion,

With my own designer jeans.

I might have written novels,

Or led a world crusade,

Or climbed the corporate ladder

Or dealt in foreign trade.

I pondered the above and yet,

I opted for another.

No salary, but the job's secure-

I chose to be a Mother

(Author Unknown)

Free at last!! I'm home.



Memorials can be donated to the following:

Crossroads Evangelical Free Church, Albert Lea, Salem Lutheran Church,

Albert Lea, Crossroads Community Hospice at Albert Lea Medical Center,

Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus (Cardiac Intensive

Care Unit) Wichita, KS., American Heart Association, or the American Red Cross.