Riley 1951 Donna Jean (Coahran) Banning

Jan. 13, 1933 - Dec. 10, 2017

MISHAWAKA - Donna Jean Banning, age 84, of Mishawaka, Indiana, passed away Sunday, December 10, 2017, at Elmhurst Hospital in Elmhurst, Illinois. Donna was born January 13, 1933, in Walkerton, Indiana, to the late Chester A. and Hazel (Teter) Coahran. She was a graduate of Riley High School in South Bend, and later graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Indiana University, Bloomington and Elmhurst College in Illinois. On June 20, 1953, she married O. Eugene “Gene” Banning in South Bend. Together, they lived in Chicago for 30 years before moving to Mishawaka in 1998. Gene preceded her in death, passing away January 31, 2005.

Surviving are her children, Debra (Jeffrey Jr.) Mahl of Melbourne, Florida, Steven (Marcia) Banning of Mariposa, California, Bruce (Tanya) Banning of Marshall, Michigan, and Tamara Jilek of Villa Park, Illinois. Also surviving are her brothers, Ray Coahran of Lakeview, Arkansas, and F. Dale (Sharon) Coahran of South Bend, Indiana. Donna is survived as well by 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Michael Jilek, and her sister-in-law, Joan Coahran.

There will be one hour of visitation prior to the 1:00 pm funeral service on Monday, December 18, 2017, at Cruz Family Funeral Home in Osceola, Indiana. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.

Donna was a longtime member of the First Church of Christ Scientist in South Bend. She was employed for many years as an Executive Secretary at Helene Curtis in Chicago and volunteered at the South Bend Library, which later led to full-time employment. Donna enjoyed spending time outdoors gardening, sewing, and traveling with her husband.

In lieu of flowers, Donna requested memorial donations be made in her memory to the Willowbrook High School Memorial Fund, Villa Park, Illinois. To light a virtual candle or leave an online condolence for her family, please visit our website at www.CruzFamilyFH.com.

Published in South Bend Tribune on Dec. 15, 2017

jmc 15 dec 2017