Donna June Northup, 98, passed away July 17, 2026, at Primrose Retirement Community in Grand Island, NE, surrounded by her family. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, July 24, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. The Rev. Robin Bashir will celebrate the funeral mass. Interment will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, July 23, 2026, from 5 – 7 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with a vigil rosary at 7. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Grand Island Central Catholic High School, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, or Mosaic at Axtel. Your thoughts and prayers may be given at www.curranfuneralchapel.com under Donna’s obituary. Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family.

Donna was born September 5th, 1927 in Falls City, NE to Emerson T. and Opal L. (McMurry) Alderman. She lived in Scottsbluff, NE and Beatrice, NE during her early years. Later the family moved to Lincoln, NE, where Donna attended and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1945. During high school, Donna was a majorette and began her lifelong enjoyment of playing the piano.

Donna met the "love of her life", Frederick J. Northup, at a USO dance while he was in Lincoln during his military service. They eloped and were married on April 1, 1946, in Biloxi, Mississippi. They were blessed to spend 73 years together before Fred passed in 2019. To this union, nine children were born.

After Fred got discharged from the service, Donna and Fred lived for a brief time in Rhode Island, where Donna worked as a telephone operator. They returned to Nebraska so Fred could attend UNL to become a teacher/coach. After Fred graduated, his teaching/coaching jobs took the family to various small communities where Donna stayed busy at home tending to their growing family. In 1964, Donna and Fred moved to Grand Island where they lived the rest of their lives making many lifelong friends.

Donna was a devoted wife and homemaker, taking pride in what she called her greatest accomplishment ~ raising their 9 children. When her children were grown, Donna worked as a special education paraprofessional for Grand Island Public Schools. She also was an in-home day care provider for several years. Donna joined the Catholic church after marrying Fred. Her faith was very important to her, and she and Fred passed this on to their children. Donna attended daily mass whenever possible, and lovingly covered her family and friends through prayers and saying rosaries. Whenever you told her you were worried about something, Donna would quickly volunteer to say a rosary for that intention. She was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Grand Island and belonged to the Catholic Daughters of the America’s Court Queen of Peace #2227. She helped with funeral dinners and enjoyed quilting with her friends at church. Her hobbies included reading and doing needlework. She made all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren a special receiving blanket when they were born.

Donna loved having her large family around her. Many Thanksgivings and Christmases were spent in the family home with wall to wall children and grandchildren. The annual Northup family reunion was another activity that Donna looked forward to. When her husband had to be moved to the VA, Donna lovingly visited him daily for 9 years.

Donna was an excellent listener/counselor, and had a gift for making whomever she was talking to feel special. She would drop whatever she was doing to give any visitor her undivided attention. Some of her kids’ cherished memories are of sitting at the kitchen table with their mom, reminiscing or sharing what was going on in their lives. Donna would listen quietly without judging, and always found something encouraging to say to make you feel better. She is in heaven now, rejoicing in finally being able to visit with and listen to her son, Charles. She was the perfect example of what a mom/grandma should be. Her unconditional love, unwavering faith, and never-ending support was a blessing to all of us. She was an angel on earth, and we will miss her so much.

Those left behind to cherish her memory include her children: Donna Grimes - Central City; Joe Northup - Lincoln; Susan (Brent) Ahrens - Lincoln; Anne (Frank) Riebschlager - Grand Island; Bill (Karen) Northup - St. Paul; Tom (Pam) Northup - Grand Island; Mike Northup - Grand Island; Kathy (Jim) Muhlbach - Grand Island; 26 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren. Sister-in-law Patty Alderman - CA.

She is welcomed into heaven by her parents, her husband, Fred, son Charles Northup, son-in-law Ron Grimes, one granddaughter, two great grandsons, brothers, Bob, Floyd, Donald, and Teddy Alderman, sister/brother-in-law Vi Alderman, John Northup.