Donna Marie Corbin

Donna Marie Corbin

Donna Marie Corbin
November 10, 1940 – April 22, 2022
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 81

Donna (McKibbin) Corbin, 81, of Oskaloosa passed away Friday, April 22, 2022 at the Northern Mahaska Specialty Care in Oskaloosa. Donna M. (McKibbin) Corbin, the daughter of James F. and Marie (Blair) McKibbin was born on November 10, 1940 in Grinnell, Iowa.

Donna graduated from Grinnell High School in 1958 and attended Iowa State University where she studied Home Economics.

On July 1, 1960, Donna was united in marriage to Clifford L. Corbin at the United Methodist Church in Kellogg, Iowa. To this union two children wereh born, Kirk C. Corbin and Lisa M (Corbin) Smith.

Cliff and Donna met when they were in high school at the roller skating rink in Grinnell. Cliff was the only person she ever dated. Donna’s sun rose and set on Cliff. They spent most Sundays when Kirk and Lisa were small going for family dinners at Cliff’s parents in Oskaloosa or eating at the Montezuma Maid-Rite and driving through John Deere implements dealership lots or through Lake Ponderosa or Holiday Lake.

Kirk loved teasing his Mom and mimicking things she said. That would make the whole family laugh. Donna loved her six grandkids, many nieces and nephews and treasured spending time and spoiling them, almost as much as the many puppies she raised. LOL. All of Donna’s six grandkids treasure the memories of going to Grandma and Grandpa Corbin’s house when growing up to play with the Border Collie puppies, horses, baby lambs, calves, pigs, and tractor rides, not to mention playing in the corn bin. When Donna went to Montezuma to run an errand, she loved stopping by Brenda and Dave Fisch’s house to visit and have a cookie or cake that Brenda had just made.

When Donna was in the nursing home and Lisa visited one day, Donna thought she was at the county fair, one of her favorite places. The Hospice nurse and Lisa decided to play into her joy. We talked about her favorite food, rides, displays and if the grandkids were safe by themselves. When Lisa went to leave the nursing home, Donna asked who was going to take her home. Lisa looked around the dining room at the nursing home and said one of the fine workers would take her home. Donna replied by saying, “they better not be a drunker or I will be calling you, Lisa!”

Donna referred to herself as a poor Irishman who just needed enough money for her trinkets and decorations. Lisa often referred to her as a Stubborn Irishman, but one of Lisa’s fondest memories of her Mom was the day Cliff passed away. Donna climbed into bed with Cliff to comfort him, talk to him and held him all day until he passed in the late afternoon. Kirk and Lisa’s last words to Cliff were that they would take care of Donna.

Donna’s hobbies including: Raising Border Collie puppies; raising horses, helping the family show and parade horses, going the Iowa State Fair and Pella Tulip time; attending church, teaching preschoolers in Sunday School, Bible study and prayer groups including Friendly Circle Club neighborhood group; family activities. She enjoyed taking pictures of the family and watching TV (horse racing – especially the Kentucky Derby, Tiger Woods golf, and the news) and listening to gospel and country music (Charlie Pride, Statler Brothers). She wasn’t big on sports or games but she did enjoy playing Bingo. Sam Elliot was one of her favorite actors. She loved getting her hair done every week, wearing jewelry and bright red lipstick. Donna was excellent at always remembering family and friend’s birthdays and anniversaries with special cards and small gifts. Donna loved her own personal birthday so much, she insisted that she should get special treatment from the family for the entire month and tried in May for Mother’s Day also.

Donna’s legacy will be remembered by her children, Kirk (& Carol) Corbin of Des Moines and Lisa (& boyfriend, Chris Shryack) Smith of West Des Moines; her grandchildren: Cassie Corbin of Montezuma, Kaylene Corbin of Montezuma, Cole Corbin of Montezuma, Emily Smith of Iowa City, Lizzy Smith of West Des Moines and Lucas Smith of Simpson College in Indianola; her nieces and nephews: Alexis (& Mark) Bierman-Roberts of San Antonio, TX, John Bierman of San Antonio, TX, Jason McKibbin of Cedar Rapids, IA, Joyce (& Danny) Curley of Laclede, MO, Brenda (& the late, Dave) Fisch of Montezuma; Denny Bunn of Sedalia, MO, Tim (& Lavonne) Corbin of OH, and Bryan Corbin of Waynesville, OH; great nieces and nephews: Valerie (& Justin) Clayton of Delta, IA; David (& Mitzi) Fisch of Sigourney; Matthew (& Tonya) Probasco of Tama, Craig (& Kory) Probasco of Montezuma, Corby (& Ashley Jo) Corbin of Sigourney, IA; Victoria (& Travis) Smith of Keota, IA, Evelyn Corbin, Jesse Earley, Jamie Stevenson, Carol Michalek and Dennis Bunn Jr..

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Cliff; sister-in-law, Doris Bunn; brother-in-law, Don Corbin; and a niece, Esther Bunn-Dreesman.

Funeral services will begin at 10:30 am Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Burial will be held in the Madison Township Cemetery in Oskaloosa.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer Association, American Cancer Society or Mahaska Hospice.

Holland-Coble Funeral Home of Montezum is in charge of arrangements.