Donna M. Wise

Beloved wife and mother, Donna Manske Wise, passed away peacefully on July 22nd, 2014. The funeral service will be at the chapel at Horan & McConaty in Centennial, CO on July 28th, 2014. Burial will follow at Valley Brook Cemetery in Breckenridge, Colorado. Donna was born in Waco, Texas on August 6, 1939, the youngest daughter of Rosalie Breeding and Herbert Paul Manske. Reared in McGregor, Texas, she was a member of First Methodist Church and graduate of McGregor High School. Donna graduated from the University of Texas. While at UT, she was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority and selected as the Blue Bonnet Belle. It was at UT that she met her husband, William E. Wise. They married on September 28, 1963. They lived in Tyler, Texas while William, (Bill) was a partner in Watburn Oil Company. Donna and Bill moved to Calgary, Alberta, in 1970 when Bill had an opportunity to run a different oil company. In 1975, they moved to Denver, CO where they raised their family. Donna was a member of Christ Episcopal Church and volunteered extensively at her children's elementary school where she was on the board of directors and was Chairperson of the parent's association. She was also a delegate for the Colorado State Episcopal Diocesan Convention and co-chairperson of the parish Annual Weekend Seminary and manager of the church bookstore. Donna enrolled in the Masters in Counseling Psychology at the University of Denver in June, 2001. She received an Exemplary Intern Award from the Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network. She was a licensed professional counselor until 2005 when she then pursued a successful battle with cancer with the same tenacity and faith that was customary for her. Donna is survived by her husband, William E. Wise Sr, daughter Wendy W. Himes, her husband Bradley W. Himes, their children William K. Himes, Evan B. Himes, and Connor F. Himes, and her son, William E. Wise Jr. and his wife Whitney Edwards Wise. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Marilyn M. Winters and husband Chris and their children Christopher and Andrew Winters, Bryant Medders, his wife Betsy, and their children Cullen, John and Hallie, Baker Meyer, his wife Angi, their children William and Katherine, Donna Santowski, her husband Rick, and their children Paul, John and Sarah Rose. Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Rosalie and Herbert Manske, her sister Rita M. Meyer, Rosemary Medders and husband Tom, and sister. Her family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude for the care she received from Tamara Santiago, Sybil Romley, and by the staff from Windcrest Memory Care Center. For those desiring, contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Association of Colorado. Tributes may be sent to the family at dads1963place@msn.com.