Donna R. Eichstaedt

Donna R. Eichstaedt passed away on Sunday, January 2, 2011. Donna was born September 3, 1938 to Donald and Marcella (Howardsen) March in Peoria, Illinois. She grew up in Normal, Illinois, attended Normal Community High School and Illinois State University, where she was the drum major and baton twirler in the prestigious University band. In 1958 she married Carl Eichstaedt and the couple moved to Danville, Illinois where Carl taught and coached in the public schools. In 1959 they started a family when daughter Ann Renee was born. A second daughter, Susan Michele was born in 1966, and the family moved to Normal, Illinois where Donna continued her college education, eventually earning a Master's degree in History, where her thesis combined two of her favorite interests: the impact of the horse on Native Americans. She counseled and taught at Illinois State University while finishing her Doctorate in History. Donna then was hired by Lincoln College in Normal where she administrated for 11 years and served as the Dean before she retired and moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1992.Donna and Carl built a beautiful 18-acre horse farm in east Las Cruces where they adopted and loved many dogs, cats, and horses. She continued to teach at the University of Texas, El Paso, where she taught her favorite subject, U.S. History, to hundreds of appreciative students. Donna's oral history projects with her students enriched the lives of WWII veterans and young New Mexicans alike. She also enjoyed teaching history for Dona Ana Community College at White Sands Missile Range, and became active in the Mesilla Valley Historical Society, serving in many capacities with the Society, including president in 2004. She coordinated and edited a wonderful non-fiction book entitled "Once Enemies, Now Friends" and uncovered the fascinating history of a New Mexican hotel in her second book, "Silver City's Bear Mountain Lodge: The Untold Story."Donna became very involved as a volunteer at the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley and she and Carl enjoyed traveling around the United States and Europe, with a special interest in visiting various sites of American combat. She also was an avid Flamenco dancer and supported the New Mexico State University dance program. Donna leaves behind her husband of 52 years, Carl, her two daughters Anne Dillenburg and Susie Whelpley, and five grandchildren, Gabriel (and his wife Nancy,) Cory, Carly, Jackson and Madelin and her sister Janet Kruzel of Lakewood, WA. Though never a smoker and in excellent health, she died from lung cancer peacefully at home surrounded by her family and beloved pets. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, January 8th at 10:00 am at Getz Funeral Home. Donations in Donna's name can be made to the Animal Services Center of Mesilla Valley at 3551 W. Bataan Memorial in Las Cruces. PDF Printable Version