Donna Jean Sortor

Donna Jean Sortor, age 91, of Deerfield and recently of Marshall, passed away July 28, 2025, at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo after a short illness.

Donna was born April 5, 1934, in Ida to Marjorie (Roe) and Lovell Miller. She lived for some years with her grandparents, Alfred and Bertha (Witt) Roe and attended several one-room schools in the area. She loved playing with her cousins, Duane Roe, Diane Roe, and Sterling Kopke. Her mother later married Wesley K. Jenne and she went to live with them for the rest of her school years. She graduated from Ida High School in 1952 and was proud of the Blue Streak memorabilia she kept over the years.

She married Gordon Milner on January 11, 1958, and they had four children together. Although the union ended in divorce, it led both of them to the loves of their lives and both had long and loving second marriages. She married Donald Sortor May 5, 1981. Donald died April 5, 2015. She gained three stepchildren, Rex, Cindy, and Jess, whom she loved with all her heart.

Donna was a strong, independent woman who met challenges head on. She worked a number of jobs throughout her life, sometimes more than one at a time. She kept huge vegetable and flower gardens, canned her own produce to feed her family, and her carefully mowed yards resembled golf courses. She once borrowed the necessary equipment and professionally painted her own car.

During her children’s school years, she enjoyed attending their band concerts and sporting events and often made beautiful cakes for bake sales at Deerfield High School. She was a long-time member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Deerfield and the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary in Deerfield.

She worked for American Chain and Cable, Tecumseh Products, and retired from General Motors on January 1, 1997. She was an active member of the United Auto Workers. Donna loved animals, especially the dogs she cared for during her long life. She enjoyed volunteering at animal shelters.

After her retirement, she and Donald moved to Rose City where they lived for 17 years. She moved back to Deerfield after he passed away. She came to live with her daughter Pam in Marshall in 2020. While living in Marshall, she attended services at St. Mary Catholic Church in Marshall and enjoyed dining out with friends after Mass on Saturday evenings. She lived her last few months at Best Care West in Marshall under the expert care of Sarah, Kelly, and Crystal. While she was there, she enjoyed visits from her large family and especially enjoyed seeing her great-grandchildren. She was an avid fan of Detroit sports, especially the Lions and Tigers.

Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Donald, her sister, Dorothy Miller who died before Donna was born, and her stepson Terry Sortor. She is survived by her son, Rick Milner, of Ida; and daughters Pam (Bernie) Herman, of Marshall, Kelly Milner, of Garden City, and Sandy Milner, of Battle Creek. She is also survived by her stepsons Rex (Cindy) Sortor and Jess Sortor, and stepdaughter Cindy Miller. She leaves behind 11 grandchildren, Jason (Sarah) Bonner, Amanda (Aaron) Atkins, Michelle (Sean) Bonner, Kristin (Kyle) Steinhebel, Adam Bonner, Laura (Brandon) Herman, Mark (Charlie) Herman, Aaliyah Wing, Desmon (Isis) Wing, Kemari Wing, and Jerius Wing. She is also survived by nine great-grandchildren, 13 step-grandchildren, 27 step-great grandchildren, and 13 step-great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her beloved dog Rambo.

A gathering will be held at Light of Christ Parish, St Alphonsus Catholic Church in Deerfield on Tuesday August 12, 2025, from 10AM until the Mass at 11AM. Fr. Jeffrey Poll will officiate.  Burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery, Petersburg, MI. Memorials may be made to the Calhoun County Humane Society or Light of Christ parish. Assistance with memorials is available at the funeral home.