Donna J. Andre, 84, Atchison, Kansas passed away Saturday, August 9, 2014 at Hickory Point Nursing Center, Oskaloosa, Kansas, with her family by her side.

No formal funeral services will be held according to her wishes. A procession from Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home to the Cummings Cemetery, Cummings, Kansas, will be Friday, August 15th at 10:00 A.M. where graveside services will be held with Chaplin Maryann Eiberger, officiating. Her cremains will then be laid to rest by her sons. Memorial Contributions are suggested to Atchison Humane Society or Alzheimer’s Association and may be left in care of the funeral home.

Donna was born September 6, 1929, in Nebraska City, Nebraska, to C. E. and Mary Jane (Tyson) Witty. She received her elementary education at Nebraska City Elementary School and graduated from Forest City High School, Forest City, Missouri. Donna had a love for journalism, and her senior year was editor of the school paper. Since there was no community paper at that time, she developed the school paper into a community newspaper known as “The Advertiser” containing both school and community news and distributed to 600 subscribers.

Donna married John H. Andre on November 26, 1948, in St. Joseph, Missouri. Mr. Andre preceded her in death on March 29, 1990.

She worked for Armour & Company in St. Joseph as a switchboard operator, then as a teletype setter and proof reader for the Atchison Daily Globe, and in the billing department for the Blish Mize Company. Ten years prior to her retirement, she and her husband John owned and operated the Atchison Ambulance Service, with Donna serving as bookkeeper.

Donna was a member of the Baptist Faith, the American Legion Auxiliary, and volunteered for the Atchison Hospital Auxiliary. She enjoyed watching football, knitting, puzzle books, listening to Big Band music, dancing and cooking. She especially enjoyed her children, grandchildren and friends. In her younger years she enjoyed the Hamm radio.

Survivors include four sons, Steven K. (Marilyn) Andre, Atchison, KS, Todd D. (Debbie) Andre, Atchison, KS, Michael J. (Pam) Andre, Atchison, KS, William P. ”Bill” (Shelly) Andre, Atchison, KS, eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by three sisters, Faye Geise, Sarah Umland, Veva Coon and two brothers, Cecil Witty and William (Bill) Witty.