Donna L. Faus

Faus, Donna L. age 89, of Minneapolis, passed away December 20, 2016. Survived by husband of 70 years, Benjamin; children Terri (Steve) Havig, Kevin (Kathy) Faus, Kimberly (David) James, Cindy Heimerl, Fritz Faus (Karen Pollock); grandchildren Ben, David, Tasha, Jeremy, Charlie, Tara, Kali, Lisa, Olivia and Madeline; great-grandchildren, Micaela, Nikolas, Andrew and Karu; nieces, nephews and friends. Also survived by special friend, Nancy Faus. Donna was raised by her father and other members of her extended family after her mother's sudden passing when she was a young girl and frequently moved from house to house. She often said the house that husband Ben built near Lake Calhoun in the Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis was her first "home". It was in this home that Donna and Ben raised their five children and is where Ben still resides. Donna and Ben immersed themselves in the Minneapolis community making many friends along the way. Charitable actions seemed to come natural to the couple and it was not uncommon that they would invite those less fortunate into their home during the Holidays to celebrate with their family. Loving to cook and having an innate ability to make all in her home welcome, Donna would present all who ever ate her table with a feast. Being a gifted painter, Donna attended art classes at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Painting was a true love and passion for Donna and she participated in the Uptown Art Fair for 18 years as well as several years in the Edina Art Fair. Donna was also a member of the Minnesota Art Tribe and participated in art shows throughout the Midwest during the 1970's. Donna's artwork was once chosen to grace the front of a Courage Center greeting card and was also featured on the cover of the organization's annual calendar. She also had her artwork displayed on the cover of the in-flight menu for Northwest Orient's routes overseas. Upon visiting Donna at her home, friends, family and neighbors were likely to find her dressed in her painting shirt, sitting in her sunny painting corner which she had adorned with all the simple pleasures of life and nature that she held dear. It was Donna and Ben's combined love and respect of nature that led to another important facet of the family's life - Lake Minnetonka. Back when the city of Excelsior still had an amusement park, Ben and Donna purchased nine acres of land on Big Island. The land, rich in beauty and local history, contained a modest, small cabin with no running water. It was here that the family would spend each summer from the day that school let out until right before it began again in the fall. Extended family also spent the summer on the Island at a nearby cabin lending for ample opportunity for large and robust family gatherings. In recent years she loved watching her grandchildren enjoy these same things that brought her so much joy. Not being ones to sit idle, Donna and Ben were fortunate to have traveled the world; traveling to places such as Russia, China, Germany, England, France, Sweden and Norway. Visitation 5:00-7:00PM, Monday, January 9 at Washburn-McReavy, Edina Chapel, W. 50th St and Vernon Ave. at Hwy 100. Funeral service 2:00 PM Tuesday, January 10 with visitation beginning at 1:30 at Lakewood Cemetery Chapel, 3600 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis. Interment Lakewood Cemetery. Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996

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Donna L. Faus

December 20, 2016

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