Donna K. (McGraw) Williams

Donna K. Williams, 78, of Ryan, Iowa, died peacefully Thursday, June 4th, 2026, at her home after a courageous battle with cancer. Donna was kind, loving, and generous, but she was also a stubborn, independent woman who waited to pass away until her children had gone to the kitchen to have a private conversation. 

Donna K. Williams was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on January 21st, 1948. She was the daughter of Mary (Wilgenbusch McGraw) Lauersdorf and Ray McGraw. Her freshman year Donna attended Immaculate Conception Academy in Dubuque. She graduated from Manchester High School in 1966.

Following high school, Donna worked at Collins Radio where she met Larry Layne Williams. Larry would bring her radios, and he would tell her she was beautiful and call her sweetheart in German. On January 13th, 1968, they were united in marriage at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in Manchester, Iowa. Donna and Larry had five children and made their home in Ryan. Donna began an upholstery business, which allowed her to be home with their children. She retired from her upholstery business after thirty years in 2003, when she was diagnosed with cancer.  

Donna was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, the Ryan Legion Auxiliary, and Daughters of the American Revolution. Donna was a longtime member of Boy Scouts, served as a Cub Scout Den Leader, and helped take a Boy Scout Troop to Philmont Scout Ranch. Donna loved feeding and hosting others. She enjoyed time with family, and her face lit up when her grandchildren and great-grandchildren visited. Donna loved and enjoyed genealogy, gardening, quilting, painting, reading, doing puzzles, watching birds, and playing cards.

Survivors include her five children: Kristina Legg of Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, Renie Frisby-McCallum of Manchester, Charles (Sarah) Williams of Walford, Sandra (Matt) Guthrie of Manchester, and Carl (Teresa Goodwin) Williams of Marion; son-in-law, Michael Legg; 15 grandchildren: Rian and Connor Legg, Brittney Frisby, Robert (Cherylann) Frisby, Joshua and Elizabeth McCallum, Emily (Logan) Pady, Erica Williams, Logan (LeiChelle) MacDonald, Sean (Nicole) MacDonald, Rhianna (Casey) Freiburger, Jordyn (Dakota) Moore, Makennzei and Kaelen MacDonald, and Payton Williams; six great-grandchildren, Layla, Shawna, Maria, Layne, Elijah, and Quinn; six brothers and one sister: Tom (DelRose) McGraw of Delhi, Ron (Jerry) McGraw of Waterville Minnesota, Jim (Diana) McGraw of Manchester, Gary (Peggy) McGraw of Dubuque, Dave McGraw of Manchester, Diane (Lou) Koch of Lamont, and Dan McGraw of Manchester; and four sisters-in-law, Judy Bemer of Cedar Rapids, Carolyn Williams-White of Manchester, Dianne Williams of Manchester, and Carolyn Strauss of Manchester.

Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Larry; her parents; seven of her brothers-in-law: Francis, Charles, Jerry, Dennis, William (Bill) Williams, Charles Beamer and Dave Cannon; three sisters-in-law, Pamela Jones, Kathy McGraw, and Lynda Williams; son-in-law, Kevin McCallum; two nieces: Stacie and Jill Williams; three nephews, John White, Kenneth Williams, and Mark Williams; her father-in-law, Charles Williams and mother-in-law, Anna (Badger) Williams.

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