Donna Marie Mumaw

Donna Marie Mumaw, 77, of Leawood, Kansas passed away on October 14, 2022, surrounded by family. She was born on May 6th, 1945, in Evanston, Illinois.

Donna graduated from the University of Dayton with a bachelor's degree in education and began her career teaching elementary school students. Her adventurous spirit led her to leave her teaching career to become a flight attendant with Trans World Airlines (TWA) where she met a young pilot named Ronald Mumaw. It was love at first sight and they were married just a few months after their first meeting. Donna and Ron were married for over 52 years.

Following her career as a flight attendant, Donna became an active member and one time president of TWA's Clipped Wings. She was proud to be chosen as the chairwoman of the international Clipped Wings convention when it was held in Kansas City, Missouri.

Donna spent time as the PTA President for Brookwood Elementary, while her children attended school there. She was also a Cub Scout leader for her sons' troop, organizing and hosting many of the troop's events.

After her children were older, she went back to school and graduated with a master's degree in Special Education from the University of Kansas. Following graduation, Donna taught as a special education teacher and later became an administrator for the Kansas City, Kansas School District. Her passion over the years in these roles, was working with students that had been expelled from school or who were on parole, to place them back in the classroom and help motivate them to graduate high school. She cared deeply for her students and was willing to do whatever it took to help them succeed. Her work with children with behavioral disorders led to recognition at a national symposium, where she was awarded Teacher of the Year.

In the later years of her career, Donna worked as an Adjunct Professor for Special Education of the University of Kansas (KU). In this role, she would visit classrooms throughout multiple school districts in Kansas and review the teaching instruction of students pursuing advanced degrees in special education at KU.

Always active, Donna loved spending time with the family outdoors from summer camping trips in Colorado to cruises in Alaska and the Caribbean and, in her later years, tending to her flower garden. Following retirement, Donna devoted her days to enjoying her family and friends. She loved watching British mystery shows and the evening news with her husband. A particular joy was time spent laughing with her grandchild during one of their many sleepovers.

Known as Nana or Mama Mumaw to friends and family, she was most known for her laughter, witty sense of humor, beautiful smile, absolute glowing personality, and lifting people up. When she set her mind to something, she would absolutely make it happen and she always put her family first, even at the very end.

Donna will be missed by all the lives she enriched, the students she helped, and most definitely her family.

Donna is survived by her husband, Ron Mumaw, her sons, Derek Mumaw (Daleen), Matt Mumaw, her grandchild, Apollo Mumaw, her sister, Pat Holz, special in-laws, Bob and Rita Mumaw, and finally, her granddog, Inanna Mumaw (AKA Na-Na).

A Celebration of Life will be held at YaYa's in Overland Park, KS, on Saturday, 11/12/2022. Feel free to drop by from 3:00PM-5:00PM, for a happy visit and appetizer event with the family. Donna certainly wanted a party to celebrate her life with her family and friends. If you would like to RSVP, please email daleenmumaw@me.com, by 11/9/2022.

YaYa's Bistro
7021 W 135th Street
Overland Park, KS 66223

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the National Scleroderma Foundation.