DONNA LYNN (ALLEN) KITTELL

A funeral service will be held for Donna Lynn Allen Kittell, 67, at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at First Christian Church in Wheatland, Wyoming with Pastor Casey Schroeder officiating. Interment will be in the Wheatland Cemetery.

Donna Kittell died suddenly at her Wheatland home on Thursday, April 13, 2023, after what she’d always describe as a “wonderful, blessed life.”

She was born on Sunday, February 19, 1956 in Denver, Colorado to Edwin R. and Dorothy J. (Foss) Allen, the youngest of three girls. Donna grew up on a block of over 50 other children, and enjoyed time with her many nearby uncles, aunts, and cousins. She was active in musical groups, drama performances and clubs in school, and loved family camping trips. Donna excelled in math and languages, and frequently said Grace for family meals in Latin.

Donna always loved horses and pets. As a small child, she spent hours on her rocking horse “Goldie”, collected horse figurines, and went on cattle drives for fun each summer. Her summer jobs included waitressing, working on guest ranches, wrangling, and being the pack cook at dude ranches. She graduated from Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado, with a major in Sociology and a minor in Geology.

Learning new skills was a joy for Donna, which helped in her varied work experiences. She was a mud logger in Wyoming, a paralegal, and a geological analyst for oil firms in Denver and Oklahoma City. At one of these oil companies in Denver, Donna was fortunate to have a boss who thought he knew the perfect man for her... his brother-in-law, Jim Kittell. They were married on August 10, 1996 in Denver at her childhood church, Washington Park United Methodist. They lived on his family ranch outside Wheatland and Donna loved this experience.

Donna loved and appreciated her Wheatland church family, and felt so welcomed by them. In her variety of jobs in Wheatland, she always enjoyed her coworkers. She loved her camping and kayaking adventures with Jim, discovering out-of-the-way sights, and travel in general. She spent hours developing her crafting skills and excelled at needlecraft. Watching and quoting old western TV shows and movies was a passion.

Donna had a deep and abiding faith in our loving God, and His promise of eternal life. She lived her life as an example and messenger of this faith.

Donna is survived by her husband, Jim Kittell; brothers-in-law, Gale (Connie) Kittell and Jerry Griffin; sister-in law, Judy (Brook) Phifer; sisters, Patty (Jesus) Guerrero and Sandra (Jim) Jordan; nephews, Matt Streeter, Allen Jordan, Cody and Nicholas Phifer, John (Ariane) Streeter; and nieces, Kim Jordan, Tori Kaycee and Amanda Kittell.

Donna was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy J., on October 30, 1996; father, Edwin R., on June 20, 1994; and sister-in-law, Teri Griffin, on June 15, 2018.

We will all miss Donna’s kindness, sense of humor, generosity, empathy, and zest for life. Rest in Peace, dear, sweet Donna Lynn. You will not be forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the First Christian Church, 95 Nineteenth Street, Wheatland, Wyoming 82201, or to the Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary, 854 State Highway 270, Hartville, Wyoming 82215, would be appreciated by the family.

Gorman Funeral Homes - Platte Chapel is in charge of the services.

Condolences can be left for the family at www.gormanfh.com

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