Donna G. Thornhill

Donna Gayle Thornhill, 96, of South Bend, passed away in the early afternoon of Tuesday, September 9, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Donna was born on May 23, 1929, to the late Gordon and Muriel Harmon in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where she grew up.   In 1948, she met the love of her life, Daniel F. Thornhill.  The two were joined in marriage on February 18, 1950.  They spent 63 wonderful years together until his passing on March 6, 2013.   In 1957, they moved from Canada to the South Bend area so Dan could pastor Auten Chapel Missionary Church (currently Hillside Missionary Church).  Together, she and Dan faithfully loved the Lord and dedicated their lives to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Donna’s greatest joy was raising her family.  She was also a security officer at Riley High School in South Bend.  She was a master seamstress and spent many hours creating beautiful pieces. She also enjoyed traveling, doing puzzles, and found joy in playing table games, always with a competitive spirit.

Donna is survived by her daughter, Patti (Ron) Sheets of Goshen.  She was the proud grandma to Carmen Sheets, Jay (Lizzie) Sheets, Jason Heflick, and Ryland Sharpe and a great-grandma to William, Macklen, Bodie, and Kenna. 

She is also survived by her sister, Marilyn Logan of Stouffville, Ontario, Canada.  Along with her parents, and husband, Donna is preceded in death by her daughter, Barbara Kuske, her twin sister, Shirley McKinnon, and by her brothers, Keith, Reid, and David Harmon.

Visitation will be held in the sanctuary inside of Southfield Village, 6450 Miami Circle, from 9:00am until service time. A funeral service honoring Donna’s life and homecoming will be held at 10:00am with Chaplain Pat Frazier. She will be laid to rest next to her husband in the Olive Cemetery in Elkhart.

Memorial contributions may be made in Donna’s name to Southern Care Hospice, 1626 E. Day Rd., Mishawaka, IN 46545.

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