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Donna Marjorie Robinson Bakman |
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February 11, 1942 – December 24, 2017 |
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January 4, 2018 |
Donna Marjorie Robinson Bakman, 75, passed away
on Christmas Eve, her mother’s birthday, at her
home in Hayden, with her loving husband, Ernie,
and little dog, Maggie, by her side. A
memorial service will be held at 5 p.m.
Friday, January 5, at the Lutheran Church of the
Master, N4800 Ramsey Road, Coeur d'Alene. A
private family burial will be held in Porthill.
She loved her life and taught many lessons to
those lucky enough to know her: get outside, dig
in the dirt, catch some fish, create something
with your hands, love a dog, bake cookies with
little kids, plant flowers, hug a neck, eat from
the garden, love Jesus and your people with your
whole heart.
Donna was born on February 11, 1942, in Bonners
Ferry. She spent her life in North Idaho and her
heart was happiest in the mountains and rivers
that made her home great.
Donna went through school in Bonners Ferry and
was active in FHA and 4-H. She received her
nursing assistant license from North Idaho
College and worked for a number of medical
practices throughout the Coeur d’Alene area.
Donna finished out her career as an office
manager for Lutheran Community Services and went
on to serve many throughout her community as a
volunteer after retirement.
In 1977, Donna co-founded the North Idaho
Flycasters organization in Coeur d’Alene, and
she taught fly tying and casting to fishermen
young and old throughout the area. She had a fly
tying vise attached to her end table as it held
a rightful place of honor in her home.
Donna discovered a passion for music when she
took voice lessons in her early years, and she
sang in the North Idaho College choir, 3Cs Coeur
d’Aleers and the North Idaho Sacred Music
Chorale for many years. She spent her life in
service to others, and the community she served
at Lutheran Church of the Master were considered
treasured members of her family.
In 1990 Donna went on a blind date to the Ground
Round with Ernie Bakman, and her first trip to
Silverwood on the loop-de-loop led to marriage
in 1991. Ernie and Donna loved to travel in
their camper, kayaking and fishing her beloved
rivers. They shared their lives for 26 years,
and listening to the two of them laugh together
was pure joy.
Donna was an accomplished seamstress, quilter,
painter and gardener, and her canned goods were
delicious enough to inspire her grandchildren to
fight over green beans. She judged at county
fairs all over North Idaho. Her quilts were
treasured gifts for new babies, weddings and
graduations, and some were given just because
she thought you needed one. Donna organized a
quilting group with fellow church members, and
their quilts were sent around the world to help
those who needed a warm hug.
Donna is survived by her husband, Ernest Bakman,
brother Rod Robinson (Jeannie), uncle Hartley
King (Janice), children Linda Hoyle (Ashley),
Alan Soderling, Craig Soderling, Bret Coppess
(Elizabeth) and Bruce Coppess (Michelle), 13
grandchildren and countless friends whom she
considered family.
They will miss her redheaded spirit, sparkling
laugh, all-too-honest Christmas letters and
no-nonsense brand of unconditional love that can
never be replaced.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to
Cancer & Community Charities of North Idaho, P.
O. Box 1274, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816.
Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene, is entrusted
with the arrangements. Tributes may be left on
her wall on the
Yates Funeral Home website. |
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