Donna M. McGrath
1930 — 2014
Donna M. McGrath, 83 of Omaha, NE, passed away Saturday, January 4, 2014.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at St. Boniface Church in Elgin, NE with Rev. Ross Burkhalter officiating. Interment followed in the parish cemetery.
Visitation was held from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Monday at the church with a 7:30 p.m. wake service.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.huffmanlevander.com.
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Donna McGrath was born to William and Irene Henkenius on October 16, 1930 in Norfolk, Nebraska. She grew up on a farm outside of Elgin, NE, graduated from St. Boniface High School and learned the values of Christianity and hard work that would provide guidance throughout her life.
After high school, Donna moved to Omaha to work for the Nebraska State Federation of Labor, American Federation of Labor and finally the Nebraska State AFL-CIO, providing assistance during the merger of the two labor organizations.
Donna moved to Washington, DC in 1960 to work on Capitol Hill for Nebraska Congressman Glenn Cunningham.
She subsequently worked for attorney Arthur Goldberg who later became Secretary of Labor for President Kennedy. She married Charles McGrath on November 25, 1961 at St. Charles’ Catholic Church in Arlington, VA.
They raised their five children in Vienna, VA. She taught religious education at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church for over 15 years.
Once the children were older, Donna returned to the workforce and became the executive assistant to the President and sales force coordinator at Coffee Butler Service in Fairfax, VA. She was proud of her ability to finance her five children’s college educations and that all of them married individuals with close ties to Nebraska. During this time, she also became active with organized labor’s Committee on Political Education and volunteered many hours with them.
Donna moved back to Omaha in 2000 and led the Nebraska chapter of the Alliance for Retired Americans and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. She enjoyed her many speaking engagements to groups about the topic.
She worked as a tour guide at Boys and Girls Town in Omaha. Donna remained busy and was subsequently awarded the Volunteer of the year award by the Douglas County Democratic Party. She also was named to the Nebraska AFL-CIO Hall of Fame. During these years, Donna attended Mass daily and volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.
Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, and her parents, William and Irene Henkenius. She is survived by her children; Kevin (Laura) of Maple Valley, WA, Brian (Barb) of Omaha, NE, Colleen Larsen (Don) of Raleigh, NC, Patrick (Donna) of Ashburn, VA and Maureen Policky (Mark) of Seward, NE; sixteen grandchildren; brother Donald and sister-in-law Shirley Henkenius of Elgin, NE; nieces and nephews.
Memorials to St. Boniface Catholic Church, Elgin, NE, Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Vienna, VA and School Sisters of St. Francis, Milwaukee, WI.
