Donna Emerson

Donna Mae Emerson, 56, of Thermopolis passed away on July 11, 2018, at the Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital after a 3-year long battle with cancer.

Donna was born on February 7, 1962, in Bad Axe, Mich., to Theodore Jacob and Donna Mae (Poppick) Schad. She spent her early years in Michigan then moved to Independence, Kan., with her mother when she was about 8 years of age. She received her education in Independence later attending Fort Hays State University, and Independence Community College. She was most recently enrolled at Central Wyoming College in Riverton to complete her nursing degree.

She married Richard M. Emerson on May 7, 1979. Four children were born to this union, Michael, Connie, Michelle and Amy. Richard and Donna loved to do everything together, from hunting and fishing, ham radio operators, riding their Harley-Davidson motorcycles, snow machines and ATV's, and ISPC Combat Pistol Shooting, where she had just as many trophies as her husband, if not more.

Donna also enjoyed tatting, in which she made beautiful lace, quilting and was a first-class camp cook. She was very active in all that she did. She was even mistaken sometimes as her daughters' "other sister". She worked at Big Horn Federal for 7 years as a bank teller prior to being employed as a CNA at the Thermopolis Rehabilitation and Care Center and later Hot Springs Memorial Hospital.

Survivors include her husband, Richard, of 39 years; daughters, Connie (Josh) Krueger of Torrington, Michelle (Josh) Brown and Amy Jacobsen all of Thermopolis; mother, Donna Thorpe of Humbolt, Iowa; father, Theodore Schad of Marlette, Mich .; brothers, Joe (Patricia) Schad and Theodore Schad of Independence, Kan., and Geraldine Moody of Bartsville, Okla .; grandchildren, Alexandria, Danielle, Tiffany, Dominic, Brooklyn, Stevie, Michael and Sydney; half siblings, Georgina Schad, Terry Filkins, and Brian Schad; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her infant son, Michael; and son-in-law, David Jacobsen.

Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life was held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Thermopolis with Father Joe Galligan officiating. Online condolences may be made at http://www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.