Our hearts are heavy in announcing the passing of our beloved matriarch, Donna Baum Jenks, on November 6, 2024, in Clermont, FL.

But we are grateful to know this weight measures the overflowing fullness of the many hearts Donna touched — through the love she generously shared with her family and community; through her dedication to her work, ever reflective of her sense of duty and craft; and through the way she owned and lived all 92 years of her 'one wild and precious life.' She lived her "three T's" in every relationship she ever nurtured: a strong foundation of "Time, Talking, and Truth."

It's hard to imagine even a single regret lingered, in her final moments.

She was born Donna Marie Weis on January 24, 1932, to Joseph Herman Weis and Frances Elizabeth Carlin Weis. In her memoir, she remembers Joe as "my hero, even at my advanced age" — a man who was not formally educated but took great care in understanding the world around him and looking out for the people in it. And her mother, Frances, was "a five foot, two inch force… quick and precise" in contrast to Joe's reserved and measured approach.

She outlined her approach to life succinctly, in remembering her most precious advice from Frances: "Do your part. Do your best. Be truthful, fair and respectful to others… and the best advice… always listen to your mother."

Donna's childhood was spent with her nine brothers and sisters, on the farm where she was born — Shady Nook Farm in St. Cloud, MN. From oldest to youngest, the Weis siblings included: Kathleen Mary, Doris Ellen, John Nicholas, Joan Anne, Leon Charles, Donna Marie, Lois Frances, Kevin Joseph, Denis Patrick, and Marcia Katherine. Donna loved her siblings dearly, remaining close to them throughout her entire life. She is survived by Leon, Lois, Denis, and Marcia.

Throughout her life, Donna treasured her close relationships with her siblings and mentioned in her memoir that loneliness was not a feeling she dealt with much, thanks to her "constant companions."

In another illuminating excerpt from her childhood on the farm, she shares a story that would define her approach to her whole life: "I went to the tool shed; took a can, hammer, and large nails; and spent some time hammering the nails into the end of the can. When I shook the can, the nails rattled, and I used the noise to rally imaginary friends.

"They would join my 'Happy Helpers Club.' Silly, I know. But I guess my goal then and even now is to be a Happy Helper. I want to be useful as long as I am able." And she did just that.

In the same week in 1953, Donna accepted her marriage proposal from Harry Baum, secured her first teaching job, and earned her Bachelor's Degree in language arts (with a minor in social studies) from St. Cloud State Teachers' College — now St. Cloud State University. With a mother and three older sisters who were all teachers, it was no surprise when Donna began her professional life in the same role — teaching junior high in Plainview, a town about 90 miles from the farm.

Donna married Harry on August 21, 1954. Their wedding kicked off 41 loving years of marriage, child-rearing, and ever-new adventures across the six states they built homes in: Minnesota, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Maryland, and Florida.

Asked about her favorite memories of Harry, she focused on his prioritization of "the personal side of life," which she deeply admired. She shared stories around the ways he showed up in personal, direct, and tangible ways, for all the folks in his life — whether he was placing two chairs in the center of a room to "talk it out" with a child in tantrum, or jumping out of planes in parachutes, to better understand the folks under his HR leadership at Lockheed Martin's space program (while the company was still doing business as Martin Marietta).

Following Harry's illness and untimely death at only 66 years of age, in December of 1995, Donna had no plans to remarry (despite Harry's explicit wishes). But a mutual golfing friend of hers and Harry's, Edwin "Ted" Hamilton Jenks, won her over in 1997. They were married June 10, 2000. In remembering Ted, she recalled his selfless nature and the joy she felt in his company, until he passed in April 2023.

In her own words: "Though each marriage ended in the death of my partner, I'm lucky to look back on both and remember bright, interesting, caring men who made me feel secure in their love for me. While they were different in character and personality, both were successful in their lives and devoted to our mutual happiness."

Her teaching roles, which began in that Plainview junior high classroom in 1953, were only to comprise the first act of a long and innovative career.

When she and Harry moved their young family to Denver, CO, in 1968, she began drawing from her language arts background to write local news articles for the Littleton Independent — after her scouting and mentorship by award-winning newspaper editor, Garrett Ray. Her work at the Independent persuaded Garrett to make her the first Editor for the newly established Columbine Independent — her first full-time role in journalism and the beginning of a rich second act in public service.

She would continue working in newspaper roles, covering local government and community affairs for publications like the Slidell Sentry and the Gaithersburg Gazette. And in 1983, her varied experience supported her transition to become one of the very first work-from-home freelance writers, for her third and final career.

She took clients in public relations and publishing, and even laid out entire company newsletters and community bulletins on her early computer, in the 90s. She was about 35 years ahead of that curve, blazing a path that has since been well-trodden (by her grandson Ryan, among many others).

Her flexibility in work and dedication to a job well done underpinned all of these impactful roles she took on. And this work ethic extended into a rich "retirement" chapter: 20 dedicated years spent building and running the food pantry at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Apopka, FL.

In her memoir, she shares: "The Pantry at St. Francis is still operating, and I look back on those memories fondly. I always enjoyed volunteer work, partly because it was in my family DNA and I couldn't help it. We always said, 'if there is a job to do and you are nearby, it's your job.'"

Clearly, her Happy Helpers Club never shuttered — it simply expanded in scope and impact as the years passed, adding new members to the fold in each new job she happily took on.

When asked about her many career paths — revolving around her Language Arts background, desire to serve her community, and deep desire to find and share the truth — she said, "the career chose me."

"The real career turned out to be as a wife and mother," she added. "It's still my favorite career, even as I transition into new roles as a grandmother and great-grandmother."

Donna's four children with Harry were the light of her life, along with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. From oldest to youngest, she is survived by her children Steven John Baum (Anne Barela Baum), Marcia Marie Baum Levy (Robert Levy), Ann Frances Baum Panepinto, and John Carlin Baum (Jodi Williams Baum).

And, because she would have sternly requested the inclusion of her grandchildren, along with their partners and her great-grandchildren, she is also missed dearly by many other descendents she is survived by:

Through Steve: her grandson Mike (Elizabeth Walsh Baum), great-grandson Miles, granddaughter Rachel (Aaron Sefton), great-granddaughter Lily, and great-grandson Pax; through Marcia: her granddaughter Jeanette (Chad Campbell), great-grandson Declan, grandson Blaine (Gesenia Antomattei-Levy) and great-grandsons, Matías and Kai; through Ann, her grandson Chad (Caitlin Buzaid Panepinto); and through John, her grandson Ryan and grandchild Carlin.

Through her marriage to Ted, she is also survived by step-daughter Abbie Jenks, step-grandson Colin, step-grandson Ben (Chelsea Young), and step-great-granddaughter Linnea Rose Mew Young.

In remembering her own mother, Donna shared: "Frances was all business when it came to rearing her large family, but also knew how to have fun along the way." Our beloved matriarch surely brought this intention into her own child-rearing journey, along with the needed respite Frances would take in her large vegetable garden, which Donna described as, "a quiet time, in the morning, before the routine and the hubbub of the day."

Donna spent much of her final years tending to her own garden, at her house in Errol Estates and, ultimately, at Orchard Heights in Clermont.

And in a broader sense, this reflects how she approached her entire life and all of the people in it: She tended her life carefully and nurtured everyone who surrounded her, with saintly patience, dedicated practice, and unshakable faith.

We will leave you with Donna's own words on how she wanted to be remembered — the final chapter of her memoir, which can be found in full here: The Seeds, Stories, and Seasons of Donna Baum Jenks

"I would hope someone would pick up on what I have attempted to be.

I tried to be a person who was helpful and tried to treat others with love and respect…

And a person who, as a teacher, tried to avoid leaving any child behind;

And a journalist who felt most useful when publishing a story of encouragement or covered breaking news with truth and facts;

And who, when given a chance, took on volunteer jobs that helped the individuals, families, and neighborhoods in my community.

I would like to be remembered as someone who loved life without taking away more than her share. Who considered the needs of my family, and loved ones, and community before opportunities to enrich myself.

Did I succeed? I'm not sure.

But I often did just enough to keep me trying."

A memorial service will be held on November 26 at noon, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Clermont, FL.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the food pantry at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, which Donna helped build and spent 20 years running (834 South Orange Blossom Trail, Apopka, FL 32703; 407-886-4602)