Michael Christopher Donahue

Michael Christopher Donahue was born September 7, 1946 in Emmetsburg, Iowa to Francis & Rita (Burke) Donahue.  He grew up in Iowa and married Paula Donahe on February 12, 1966 in Fort Dodge.  Michael served in the United States Army during Vietnam where he was stationed in Giessen, West Germany and assigned to the 2nd Finance Section.

Michael earned an Associate Arts Degree from Iowa Central Community College in Ft. Dodge and his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa.  He was a faculty member at Iowa Central Community College where he taught industrial safety to five campuses over fiber optic T.V. transmission from 1983 to 1999.  He was also the Human Resources and Safety Manager for the National Gypsum Company from 1980 to 2005.  He had received additional schooling as a Gypsum Association Safety Instructor and a Mine Safety & Health Safety Instructor.  Michael had also received numerous awards over his career from National Gypsum and the Gypsum Association including the Division Safety Award, Citation Award, Melvin H. Baker for Safety, No Lost Workday Case Award, Lloyd H. Yeager Million Man-Hour Award and Triumph Safety Award.  He was also a member of several industry and safety organizations including the National Safety Council, Iowa Safety Council, Society Human Resource Management and Iowa Central Community College Supervision and Management Committee.  He had served as chairman for the United Way for Gypsum Plants, Meat Industries and Clay Products, the North Central Iowa Personnel Association, and Human Rights Commission of Webster County & Fort Dodge, IA.

Michael enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a member of the NRA and Bass Anglers Sportsman Society.  He also gave back to his community, teaching with the career day program at Fort Dodge community schools and in-service education through Trinity Regional Hospital for EMT’s regarding industrial emergencies and accidents. 

Michael entered into rest at his home in Kimberling City, Missouri on Monday, June 22, 2020 at the age of 73.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Michael is survived by his wife Paula Donahue of Kimberling City; two daughters, Janalynn Donahue of Branson, MO and Regina Fletcher of Ft. Dodge, IA; and three grandchildren Colton Edstrom, Alexandria Edstrom and Julia Fletcher.

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