Donna Gail Carlton

Donna Gail Carlton, 83, died December 11, 2024 at her care facility in Bloomington. Donna was born November 8, 1941, in Racine, Wisconsin. She was the first of five children of Robert Edward Lynch and Antoinette Marie (Kosovich) Lynch. Her family settled in Calumet, Minnesota, in the heart of the Iron Range, where Donna warmly remembered hiking, swimming, fishing and climbing the iron ore dumps. "You can take the girl out of the Range," Donna would say, "but you can't take the Range out of the girl." Donna attended Calumet School (K-9) and Greenway of Coleraine High School. After a year at Itasca Junior College, Donna transferred to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where she studied history and political science. Donna would recall how her four grandparents, all immigrants, stressed the importance of education. It was at the U where Donna met her future husband, Stephen Anbuhl Carlton. She was a devoted mother to her three children - Mark (Grandara), Stephen (Amy), and Karalyn (Scott Holter). Donna took a keen interest in politics when as a little girl politicians like Hubert Humphrey and John Blatnik visited the Lynch household to meet with her father. She became active in women's and human rights in college and thereafter. She was a National Delegate at the 1972 and 1980 Democratic conventions. Donna was a leader in the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment and was instrumental in the organization of the Minnesota Women's Meeting in 1977, part of a nationwide observance of International Women's Year. Also, she battled to get girls softball established in the west metro suburb where her kids were growing up. Donna was a trailblazing financial executive who ran her own successful firm for 33 years, retiring in 2010. When she started in the mid-1970s, there were few women in financial planning. She would go on to win numerous awards and was continually recognized as a leader throughout her career. Donna impacted her three children profoundly, as each established their own financial management businesses. This was one of her proudest achievements. Donna was an avid reader, traveler and Minnesota sports fan, served on several state and local boards, and was involved with charities. She is also remembered for her love of cooking and gardening; and is especially known in her extended family for her pies and bread. Donna was preceded in death by her father and mother, her brother Don Lynch, and her sister-in-law Joan Lynch. In addition to her children, Donna is survived by seven grandchildren: Talia, Zoe, Gemma, Alice, Quinn, Emmett, and Ash; her sister Kathy (John) Lothrop, brothers Len Lynch and Bob (Patti) Lynch, and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Heifer International, the Women's Foundation of Minnesota, or Open Arms of Minnesota.

Tributes

Donna Gail Carlton

November 8, 1941 - December 11, 2024

Tributes

Donna Gail Carlton

November 8, 1941 - December 11, 2024

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