Dona Pierce

Dona Jean Pierce, Lakeshore, passed away on June 17, 2021.

She was born on August 21, 1930 in Mound Minnesota to Walter and June (Smalley) Henderscheid. Dona grew up on Cook’s Bay and Lake Minnetonka. On April 19, 1050 she married Patrick Pierce and they moved to St. Louis Park where they raised Michael and Mary. On December 9, 1982, Patrick suddenly passed away. Dona then entered what she termed Phase Three of her life. She sold the family home and moved to Lakeshore, Mn to her second home in Sherwood Forest, on the shore of Lake Margaret, Gull Lake Chain. She was a knitter and reader over the winter. In the spring time, she was a gardener. After being certified by UMN EXT she became a Crow Wing/Cass County Master Gardener. She volunteered at Northland Arboretum as one of the WEEKLY WEEDERS who maintained the many gardens.

She naturalized the property on Lake Margaret and had it certified by National Wildlife Fed as “Backyard Wildlife Habitat”, offering food, water, shelter, and a place to raise their young. She felt she had come full circle, from small town Mound, Cook’s Bay, Lake Minnetonka to Nisswa, Lakeshore, Lake Margaret, Gull Lake Chain. She spent her final years maintaining the Wildlife Habitat, and gardening at Northland Arboretum, along with the many activites of the Master Gardeners.

She is survived by her son, Michael B. Pierce, Naples, Florida and daughter Mary Lee Pierce, Wolcott, Colorado.

A private burial will be held at the Pelican Woods Cemetery, Breezy Point, Mn.

Memorials to Dona Jean Pierce/Environmental Scholarship 6110/Central Lakes College OR to: The Nature Conservancy, Mn Chapter/1101 W. River Parkway, Suite 200, Minneapolis, Mn 55415, with a simple note that the gift is in memory of Dona Jean Pierce and is to be used in the State of Minnesota.