Donna Kaderlik

Donna (Wondra) Kaderlik, age 85, of Savage, MN, passed away on December 2, 2024. A Time of Gathering will be held from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM with closing prayers at 1:00 PM on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, 4565 Pleasant St SE, Prior Lake, MN 55372. Donna will be laid to rest at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery in Prior Lake. 

Donna Jean was born on August 5, 1939 to Cyril and Lillian (Paur) Wondra in Le Center, MN. The oldest of three children, Donna grew up on the farm with her family and began her active life. The farm kept her and her two brothers busy, but she cherished the family trips into Montgomery on the weekends. Together they enjoyed meeting up with friends and family, stocking up on groceries, and sometimes catching a western with her dad at the local movie theater. The farm instilled a strong independence and work ethic into Donna at a young age, but it had a certain isolation that she was ready to move on from as she grew older. She loved socializing and going to new and fun places and reading about the bigger world beyond in a Hollywood magazine. 

Donna attended a one room country school near Le Center, and she loved her teacher, who would even cook for the kids when they brought in potatoes and fixings. Donna attended school through 10th grade before deciding to go to work. She worked many different jobs, including at Green Giant in Montgomery and at Mangan's Cafe in Le Center. 

While he was on leave from the Army, Donna was introduced to Myles Kaderlik. After his honorable discharge, they reconnected at the Park Ballroom during a Labor Day dance and had their first official date at the Minnesota State Fair. On November 5, 1960 at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery, the couple exchanged wedding vows. This union was blessed with three daughters and 59 years together. Together, they lived upstairs in an apartment built for them on the Kaderlik family farm before eventually settling in on their own. They moved to Cordova and then built a house in Prior Lake in 1964, where they resided together the rest of their lives. 

Donna was a jack of all trades and took pride in taking care of everything while Myles was working in his cement business. If something needed fixing or crafting, Donna was the one to do it. If there was a task to do, Donna would get it done. She took care of the house and land, gardened, canned, and always kept things beautifully decorated. She loved going on errands and brought her daughters with her every Thursday on her rotation of stores, which always included hitting as many garage sales as possible. Donna also took on many different jobs over the years, working for a grocery store, in the school system as a cook, Little Six concessions, and in the cosmetic department of JC Penney for many years until her retirement, where she loved bringing home samples for her daughters. 

Donna was also a lover of nature and enjoyed going up north to hunt and fish with her family on Mille Lacs. Food was always a priority, and she loved the challenge of cooking on a small camp stove in the fish house or over a campfire. She loved having cookouts with her daughters and would build them full decked out forts to play in. There are many cherished memories of long walks through farmland and meadows that were adjacent to the neighborhood and full day picnics that were shared as a family. Donna was a special grandma as well, spoiling her grandchildren with Malt-O-Meal, treats and other goodies. Donna was also an avid reader and had a love of books. 

When she was able to, Donna also loved traveling and was able to visit Paris, Italy and Spain, as well as destinations around the United States, taking a train to Montana and visiting her daughters in Tennessee, Virginia and the Carolinas. Donna always had something planned that she wanted to check out or visit, so there was never a dull moment on her travels.

Donna was always proud of her Czech heritage as well. 100% Bohemian, she enjoyed a good polka. 

Later in life, Donna maintained her strength and independence all the way up until a week before she passed, mowing her own lawn and driving herself to appointments. She never complained and always went with the flow. 

An inspiration to all, she will be greatly missed by her children, Carol McMahan, Nanci Gallagher, Tracy Hein; grandchildren, Jessica (Carl) Luyendyk, Ben (Kaili Shaul) Gallagher, Luke Hein, Joey Hein; great-grandchildren, Brynn Luyendyk; brother, Roger (Margaret) Wondra; good friends and neighbors, Nathan Johnson and Charlene Beerling; granddogs, Zeus and Rolo; and other loving nieces, nephews, family and friends. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Myles; grandson, Jared Gallagher; parents; and brother, Milo (Carolyn) Wondra.