Donna E Treece

Donna Eleanor Treece

 (Sattler)

Of Jackson, Michigan

At the age of 95, Donna passed away at Arbor North Living Center April 14, 2025.  She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 50 years, John Whitney Treece in 2005.  Donna was born in Jackson, Michigan on Thursday, October 10, 1929 to the late Ralph G. Sattler and his wife, Mildred L. (Tindall) Sattler.

She is survived by four children, Natalie (David) Halsey, James (Marion) Treece, Paula Treece, and Chris Phillips; grandchildren: Amanda (Kit) Kirkland, Jessica (Dan) Brown, Erica (Greg Swets) Halsey, Sean (Breyana) Treece, Kelsey (Zach Dowling) Treece, Brooke Treece, Hayley (Sam) Beard, Samantha Phillips, and Trevor Phillips; great-grandchildren: Theodore Brown, Leo Brown, Oscar Swets, Violet Swets, Katherine Kirkland, Brooks Beard, and Charles Dowling; sister, Lois “Babe” Harmon; brother, Lynnwood (Lydia) Sattler; several nieces and nephews.

Donna was a graduate of Vandercook Lake School Class of 1947, and Jackson Junior College (1949) and majored in music at Michigan State University completing her degree in 1951.  At MSU, she wrote the Vandercook Lake School Fight Song, which the school adopted and is still using. She was honored for that achievement by the VCL Schools and with a front-page article in the Jackson Citizen Patriot on May 24, 2011.

Donna retired after a 33-year career as a grade school teacher and later as an elementary music teacher at Northwest Community Schools.  As a choral music teacher, she directed and produced a yearly musical as well as various concerts through each year.  She loved teaching and especially loved her students.  She was a gifted musician who gave of her time and talent to many organizations, playing the clarinet for the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, sang in the Jackson Chorale, Jackson Tuesday Musicale chorus. She served as a two-time Past-President of Jackson Tuesday Musicale Society and as a member of the Calvary United Methodist Church, she sang in the choir and was a bell ringer.  Donna and John loved to dance and were Past-Presidents of many dance clubs throughout the years. 

Funeral Services will be held at Calvary United Methodist Church 925 Backus St. Jackson, MI, Monday April 21, 2025 at 1:00pm The Reverend Arthur Turner officiating. Interment Jones Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 12:00pm until the time of service.

For those wishing, contributions in Donna’s name may be made to Calvary United Methodist Church 925 Backus St. Jackson, MI 49202.

Please express your condolences to the family at www.watson-funeral-chapels.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donna E Treece, please visit our floral store.