Donna Rourick

Donna Rourick, 94, died peacefully at the Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa, on Monday, May 12, 2025, after a brief onset of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Donna was born on May 6, 1931, in Oakland, Iowa, to Laurence and Ruby (Robinson) Taylor, the first of five children. She proudly played basketball for the Oakland Yellowjackets team which took second place in the Iowa Girls’ State Tournament. She received her B.A. degree from Drake University and an M.S. degree from Iowa State University. She taught elementary grades in Wiota and Atlantic.

Donna married Dale Rourick at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Wiota, Iowa, on September 5th, 1953. They raised six children on their farm south of Wiota, retiring and moving to Atlantic in 1986. Dale died on May 2, 2010.

Donna was an active community volunteer, serving on the Atlantic Community Schools Board of Education, Cass County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees and the Southwest Iowa Mental Health Board. She started and maintained Eastern Bluebird Trails, presented bluebird lectures across Iowa and taught box-building to elementary students. She remained active at Brookridge, leading Brookridge breakfast meetings and delivering newspapers to residents at 3:00 a.m., until she was 92. Brookridge friends became her family.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Diane Rourick Hamzyck of Woodridge, NY, Deb (Sam) Hunt of Mason City, Dan (Marie) Rourick of Atlantic, Kathy Gus of Boone and Lynette (Dan) Yager of Atlantic; grandchildren, Ben Hunt, Bill Hunt, Andy (Britt) Gus, Ali (Aaron) Schweizer, Taylor Loughran and Emily Yager; great-grandchildren, Haddie & Stevie Gus, Addie & Eli Loughran and Mason Schweizer; sister, Janene Ray of Littleton, CO; sister-in-law, Peggy Taylor of Oakland; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dale; son, Bradley; grandson, Alex Yager; sons-in-law, Adam Hamczyk and Steve Gus; brother, Laurence Taylor; and sisters, Janice (Ray) Schellenberg and Mary Ann (Charles) Conger.

Visitation with the family present will be held from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., Friday, May 16th, at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic beginning with a prayer from Father Brad Robey at 5:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 17th, at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic with Father Brad Robey as Celebrant. Immediately following, the family invites friends to a luncheon at the Heritage House, Lower Lounge. There will be a private inurnment service in the afternoon at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials may be designated to the Heritage House Good Samaritan Fund.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Donna’s family and her arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.