Donna Iler Neidhardt

Donna Iler Neidhardt, born in Paulding County, Ohio, on July 16, 1930, passed from this life on Thursday, May 31, 2012. She was preceded in death by both parents Charles and Thelma Iler and her brother Jack. Survived by brother, William; and sister, Gaynell; and by loving husband of 57 years, Walter Joe Neidhardt, and their four children, Neil (Nanette), Laurie (John), Lisa, Linda, and Ned (Lisa); and four grandchildren, Lauren, John, Daniel, and Jessica. Donna graduated from Paulding High School and pursued music studies at Morehead State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music, followed by graduate studies at The Ohio State University. Donna met Joe, her husband-to-be, while she was employed teaching music in Spencerville, Ohio. Donna was teaching music in the public schools and Joe had returned to his hometown after serving in the United States Air Force. Donna and Joe were married on June 26, 1955. The young couple lived in Lima, Xenia, Mount Gilead and Columbus, before settling in the Dublin area, while Joe built highways and bridges and Donna began giving piano lessons and working as a substitute teacher. In addition to private music lessons, Donna was also Director of Music for Dublin Community Church for eighteen years, Assistant Director of the Columbus Damenchor, Secretary of the Washington Township Zoning Board of Appeals, a charter member of the Dublin AM Rotary Club, formed a small group known as the Dublin Folk Singers, was a member of the Auxiliary to the Franklin County Chapter of the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers, and for eight years owned and operated the Dublin office of UNIGLOBE Travel Unlimited. In addition, Donna served the wider community as an active servant on the Columbus Interfaith Council, The International Visitors Council, the Open Church, Bethlehem on Broad on Broad Street, and as Grand Marshall of Dublin's St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1984. Donna's work in music ministry compelled her to pursue theological education at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, completing a Masters degree in Divinity in 1987. Ordination by the United Church of Christ soon followed, allowing Donna to serve the faith community through work in HIV/AIDS education, as an Interim Minister, as a leader of grief support groups. Working with support from the Columbus AIDS Task Force, Donna made many presentations in churches, schools, prisons, and civic organizations to educate persons about the causes, prevention, and caregiving related to HIV/AIDS, and to remove the stigma attached to the disease. Donna's involvement with the Columbus Cursillo/Cum Christo Community as a Spiritual Director led to her being part of the first Kairos Prison Ministry at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. (ORW) She also served on many Kairos teams at ORW, and was a volunteer chaplain at Marion Correctional Institution, ministering to incarcerated men. At the closing of the church service, Donna liked to use the following benediction, which was authored by Bob Benson: Wherever God takes you-go; Whichever the task -do it; Wherever the challenge - accept it; Wherever the call answer it; Whichever the lesson- learn it; However dark the path - follow it; Because wherever God takes you It is worth it. Amen. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, June 2, 2012 at the RUTHERFORD-CORBIN FUNERAL HOME, 515 High Street, Worthington 43085. A Celebration of Donna's Life will be held 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 4, 2012 at Dublin Community Church, 81 West Bridge Street, Dublin, OH 43017 with Reverend Robert Tussing officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rotary International "End Polio Now", http://www.rotary.org/en/EndPolio.