Catharina “Cathy” Margaretha Nieuwland Donkin

Catharina “Cathy” Margaretha Nieuwland Donkin passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family January 28, 2020. She was born on October 18, 1952 in Murray, Utah to Jacob and Catharina Nieuwland. She married Frederick “Rick” John Donkin, III on September 11, 1976 in the Salt Lake Temple. They had 3 children, 5 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.
Cathy was able to stay home and raise her 3 kids, and they all survived despite the kids’ best attempts otherwise! She was quite the practical joker and took great pleasure in scaring her kids as they walked around corners or when coming out of the bathroom at night. She would often start water fights during outdoor activities or happily drop an ice cube down your shirt. Many times while in a restaurant she would pick up her knife and say “On guard!” and start a mini sword fight.
While the children were in elementary school, Cathy was involved with the PTA for all 3 kids and loved playing the piano for the school as well. She also sold Avon on the side for many years and, of course, used her kids to help deliver a lot of books and products. Cathy would do almost anything to support the kids if she could while teaching them responsibility and other vital life skills. One of the ways she did this was helping the kids with paper routes; she was the first one up to drag the kids out of bed and start folding the papers while they were waking up. When the kids were older, she made some dear friends while working for Mattel, not to mention the many toys she collected. Cathy loved collecting the holiday Barbies thanks to Mattel who gave her one each year she worked for them.
She loved to read and could get lost in the written word for hours. She also had a passion for crocheting and was able to make an afghan for each of her kids. She was saddened that in the last year of her life she was not physically able to finish any afghans for her grandchildren (though she really tried!). Cathy had a special talent for playing the piano and organ. She was able to sight-read music very well and could play a song for the first time with very few mistakes and was always willing to accompany anyone doing a musical number in church. Although she didn’t think so, Cathy also had a great singing voice.
She had a desire to travel and was able to visit several states within the US. The farthest she was able to travel was to the open house of the Rome, Italy Temple with Rick where they visited other sites within Italy, followed with a Northern Mediterrianean cruise. She especially wanted to visit Holland where her parents emigrated from; however, due to health issues later in life she was not able to go on her dream vacation.
Cathy had a love of the gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was called as a ward accompanist when she was a teenager, which became one of her favorite callings in the church. While in the hospital she lamented that she couldn’t play the organ one last time for Sacrament Meeting. She especially loved her Primary children as several of her callings in the gospel were either in the Primary presidency or playing the piano during Sharing Time. She would often share her testimony with her words, music, and actions while being very compassionate and loving. Even while going through her own medical tribulations she would ask about others’ trials and what she could do to help.
Cathy is preceded in death by her parents and several aunts and uncles. She is survived by her spouse Rick; children: Jonathan (Jennifer), Heidi, and David (Nichelle); grandchildren: Felicia, Emily, Sean, Tori, and Karina; two great-grandchildren: Avienda and Kazimier; and her siblings: Jake Nieuwland (Ruth), Mike Nieuwland (Frances), and Melanie Haws (Terry).
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 11:00 AM. Viewing will be 6:00 – 8:00 PM on Friday, February 7, 2020, and again on Saturday from 9:00 – 10:45 AM. All services will be at the Hunter Central Stake Center 3930 South 6000 West, West Valley City, Utah 84128. Interment to follow the services at Memorial Redwood Cemetery 6500 S Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah 84123.
Service Information
Viewing February 7, 2020 at 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Hunter Central Stake Center 3930 South 6000 West, West Valley City, Utah 84128





Viewing February 8, 2020 at 9:00 - 10:45 AM
Hunter Central Stake Center 3930 South 6000 West, West Valley City, Utah 84128





Funeral Service
February 8, 2020 at 11:00 AM
Hunter Central Stake Center 3930 South 6000 West, West Valley City, Utah 84128