She lived an Iowa farmgirl life until 1939 when her father retired from farm work and moved the family to the nearby town of Charter Oak, IA. In 1949, she graduated from the Charter Oak High School as class Valedictorian. During her senior year, Donna was a member of the Girl’s Basketball Team that qualified to compete for the Iowa State Women’s Basketball Championship in Des Moines, IA.
After a successful high school tenure, Donna moved to Sioux City, IA in the fall of 1949 to attend the National Business Training College, a post graduate school for women interested in pursuing a professional business career. Upon completion of her Business Training Degree, in the spring of 1950, she became a legal secretary and worked for the Woodbury County Attorney in Sioux City. During her time in the County Attorney’s office, she became very active in local Iowa politics.
In 1954, Donna married her high school sweetheart, Melvin Berka, also of Charter Oak, IA. They lived in several small towns in western Iowa as her husband’s teaching and coaching career developed. Donna packed up the family and moved to Lincoln, NE in 1963 when Melvin assumed a teaching position at Northeast High School. Her married life led to a long string of happy days, ornamented by the lives of a caring husband and five children – Karen (Douglas) Lind-Olson of Lincoln, NE, Reginald (Angela) Berka of Houston, TX, Douglas (Andrea) Berka of Kansas City, MO, Diane (John) Mayberger of Crete, NE, and Bradley (Debra) Berka of Lincoln, NE.
Donna re-entered the workforce in 1973 as an Administrative Assistant for the Nebraska State Education Association and worked there until her retirement in August of 1995. During this phase of her career, she was a fixture in the halls of the State Capital advocating for public education with members of the Nebraska Unicameral.
In addition to her activities managing the family, Donna was an active member of St. John’s Catholic Church, St. John’s Altar Society, Women of the Moose #175, Lincoln Charter of American Business Women’s Association, and Capital Sams Camping Club.
As a specialist in organizing events, she enjoyed hosting family get-togethers, throwing Nebraska Football parties for her many friends, and spending time in her garden. Donna is preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Berka, her daughter, Karen (Berka) Lind-Olson, and her sons Douglas and Bradley Berka. She is survived by her son Reginald Berka of Houston, TX and her daughter Diane (Berka) Mayberger of Crete. She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren.
Rosary: 10:00 am Monday, July 13, 2026, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 am at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, 7601 Vine Street. Burial in Fairview Cemetery.
Visitation Sunday, July 12, 2026, with family present from 4-6 pm at Roper and Sons Midtown Chapel, 4300 O Street.
Memorials to St. John the Apostle Catholic Church or Food Bank of Lincoln.