Dean Edward Donohue, 93, of Knoxville, passed away October 1, 2026, at Comfort House in Pella surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 5, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., with family receiving friends prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Knoxville. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery. A luncheon will be held following the service for a time of continued visiting and fellowship.
Memorials may be made in Dean’s honor to the Marion County Humane Society or the Community of Christ Church.
Dean was born May 21, 1933, to Charlie and Edna (Warner) Donohue. He grew up on the family farm that dated back to 1868. He attended Springdale Country School and graduated from Dallas High School in 1952. Dean served his country in the United States Marine Corps and was stationed in North Carolina and Japan following the Korean War.
On March 25, 1960, Dean married Lila Chambers. Their marriage became the center of a life that Dean treasured deeply. Dean was never one who needed to be the center of attention. In fact, he was quite the opposite. Quiet and introverted by nature, he was most comfortable simply being himself and being with the people he loved. Those who knew him well knew there was a kind and gentle soul behind that quiet exterior.
Family meant everything to Dean. He was very much a family man, and there was little he enjoyed more than having his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren around him. As the years passed and life brought health challenges, Dean remained appreciative of those who cared for him and grateful for the family that surrounded him.
Dean had a fascination with the past. He enjoyed antiques and especially loved refinishing and restoring antique furniture. He could take something old and worn and make it beautiful again. He was a history buff, with a particular interest in reading about the Civil War.
Dean enjoyed the older country sound. He had a little creative streak of his own, writing song lyrics while his grandson Pete would put music to them. He also was creative with old print advertisements making very interesting boxes and gifts. In later years Dean enjoyed going to the casinos and playing slots.
Dean didn’t seek recognition or attention. Instead, his was a life built quietly around family, simple pleasures, things that interested him, and the people who mattered most. For those fortunate enough to really know Dean, that quiet nature was part of what made him so special.
Dean is survived by his wife, Lila Donohue; his children: Carolyn (Steve) Jones and Curt Donohue; his grandchildren: Pete Collins, Cari (Tyler) Reicks, Emma Donohue, Shane (Jenn) Jones, Seth Jones; along with his great-grandchildren: Rosie, Phoenix, Sydney, Jamasen, and another great-grandchild on the way. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Jean VandeKamp along with many extended family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Edna Donohue; father-in-law and mother-in-law Eddie (Zella) Chambers, his sister, Dorothy (Bill) Flagg; grandson, Andrew; and brothers and sisters-in-law: Tootie (Jack) Nicholson, Harold (Betty) Chambers, Junior (Doris) Chambers, Bob (Maxyne) Chambers, Randle (Berneil) Chambers, Bill VandeKamp, and Raymond (Phyllis) Chambers.
