Donna L. Shearer

July 27, 1947 - April 18, 2013

Donna Lee Shearer, 65, of Geneva, died Thursday, April 18, at Fillmore County Hospital of complications arising from cancer. Donna was born to Harold (Gene) Boyd and Dorothy Louise (Boles) Boyd in Chicago, IL on July 27, 1941. Donna was married to Wayne Dale Shearer, of Mason City, IA on December 18, 1965. There were 4 children born of this union. The family resided in Mason City, Charles City, Chariton, and Muscatine IA before ending up in Geneva NE. Donna loved being a stay-at-home mom to her three surviving children. As they all entered school, she pursued work outside the home. She worked as a phone operator in Mason City, a school librarian in Chariton, a law office manager in Muscatine, and when she and her family moved to Nebraska, she sought out her calling as the librarian in Geneva NE. In her younger days, she enjoyed playing volleyball, camping, canoeing, playing bridge, hosting neighborhood events and having fun with her kids. She also enjoyed traveling, particularly in the mountains and was perpetually looking for wildlife. Donna’s more recent interests included anything and everything involving the library, her children’s and grandchildren’s activities, and voraciously reading many of the books that were part of the library’s collection. For 23 years, Donna was the director of the Geneva Public Library in Geneva, NE. During this time, some highlights of her career were that she modernized the card catalog system from hand-written to typed, developed the genealogy section, spearheaded the fundraising and expansion of the new library addition, incorporated the use of computers into public use, replaced the card catalog system with a computerized system, and started the library’s VCR/DVD collection. Her dedication to the library and its mission were unquestionable to anyone who knew her. She remained employed as the library director right up until her untimely death. Survivors include her three children; Rob Shearer and wife Deb (Tipton, IA), Lisa Rands and husband Brad (Omaha, NE), and Robin Hollinger (Minden, NE); two brothers, Mark Boyd and wife Becky (Albert Lea, MN) and Randy Boyd (Mason City, IA); ten grandchildren: Brent Shearer and wife Megan, Brian Shearer , Samantha Eberle, Brittannie Hollinger, Allison Hollinger, Jessica Hollinger, Nick Rands, Jess Rands , Macy Rands, and Haley Rands; and 2 great-grandchildren, Alyvia Shearer and Dylan Shearer. Donna was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Libby Jo; parents, Gene and Dorothy Boyd; and sister, Janet Bjork. Services for Donna will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at the Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Geneva, Nebraska. Public visitation will begin Monday at 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Funeral Home in Geneva. Burial will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City, Iowa. Memorials are directed to the Geneva Public Library in lieu of flowers.