Obituary of Donna Tagg

Donna Jean Tagg passed away in her home on Saturday, Nov. 22nd. She was born on December 28th, 1932 in Allen, Nebraska and grew up on a farm near Martinsburg. She graduated from high school in Laurel, Nebraska and then moved to Sioux City, Iowa to work. There she met her future husband, Larry (Lawrence), and they were married in 1954 in Denver. Donna traveled the world with Larry and their sons during his Air Force career before settling in Tucson in 1973. She was eminently successful in balancing her roles as a person, wife, mother, and partner during this time. Donna managed the two pre-school boys for a year in Sioux City while Larry was on a one year tour in remote Alaska. Then twice more, she and the boys spent several months in Sioux City awaiting orders to travel to Germany to join him. Larry can still picture Donna coming across the airport tarmac with the two boys in tow. If the Air Force awarded the "Meritorious Service Medal" to wives, she would have been so honored. Donna was very involved in volunteer work, including religious education programs and Thrift Shop work at various Air Force bases. In Tucson, she volunteered for many years with cardiac rehabilitation at St. Joseph's Hospital and was a Red Cross volunteer. She was heavily involved in various activities at Udall Senior Center, supported Tucson Old Timer's (TOTS) baseball, and was an avid line dancer. Donna was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother with an outgoing personality, and always a smile. She is survived by her husband of 60 years Larry; sons Philip (Cynde) of Bosque Farms, New Mexico, and Martyn (Lori) of Sonoita, Arizona; grandsons Greyson and Brandyn; sister Mary Lou Erb of Wakefield, Nebraska; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Elmer and Margaret Gensler, brother Martin "Bud" Gensler, and sisters Irene Wilson and Francis Casey. A celebration of life will be held at Bring's Broadway Chapel at 6910 East Broadway at 2 pm on December 12th, 2014. She will be buried at the Fort Huachuca Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her name to the Adult Loss of Hearing Association (alohaaz.org)) or the Humane Society of Southern Arizona (https://hssaz.org).