Donnetta Perkins, 65, of Council Bluffs, Formerly of Oakland
Donnetta Perkins, the daughter of Donald and Peggy (Shanno) Kindhart, was born July 3, 1959, in Council Bluffs, IA. Donnetta passed away peacefully at her home in Council Bluffs, IA, after a courageous battle with breast cancer, on January 2, 2025, at the age of 65 years, 5 months, and 30 days.
Donnetta attended school in Oakland, graduating from Oakland High School in 1977. She graduated from Jennie Edmundson Nursing School as Salutatorian in 1980 and completed the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program at WVU in 1991. Her group from Children’s Hospital were the first NNP’s in the state of Nebraska. She graduated from the University of Phoenix with a BSN in 2011 with Honors. Donnetta began working at Children’s Hospital in 1980 as a NICU staff nurse, where she worked her way to charge nurse and then head nurse in 1987. She started as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner in 1991. In 2001, she became the construction manager to help plan and build the new hospital where it stands today. In 2010, Donnetta was Children’s first Magnet Program Director. She returned to the NICU in 2013 as the interim patient care manager and was named the Director of NICU and Fetal Care Center in 2014. Donnetta finished her career with another Children’s Nebraska first—she was their first policy management systems analyst. She continued to work at Children’s Hospital until the time of her death. May 2025 would have marked her 45th year with Children’s Hospital. She had many different titles over that span. She was a trailblazer, a mentor, a sounding board, and a guiding light to many who worked alongside her. She was affectionately known as “Perkipedia” because she knew so much about the organization. She was one of the few employees who had worked at all four locations. In 2016, she was named Pediatric Nurse of the Year by the March of Dimes. Her commitment to the neonatal population was evident by her involvement with the March of Dimes, where she served on the Logistics Committee and as Children’s team captain.
Donnetta liked to hang out with her grandchildren. Her favorite place to visit was Colorado, and she liked to hike on the trails. She recently took up golf and enjoyed golfing with David and her sisters. She loved to play word games on her iPad. Her favorite teams were the Creighton Bluejays and the Kansas City Chiefs. She especially enjoyed her yearly “sister trips.”
She married David Perkins on August 18, 1979. They have two children, Abigail Nicole Perkins and husband David White of Council Bluffs, IA, and Jennifer Elizabeth McInroy and husband Christopher of Council Bluffs, IA; four grandchildren: Savannah McInroy, Camden McInroy, Zoei White, and Olivia White; her three loving sisters: Donna Bartlett and husband Jeff of Oakland, IA, Deb Jamison and husband Jon of Perry, IA, and Doreen Lahr and husband Jesse of Laurie, MO; her father-in-law “Grandpa” Gayle Perkins; two brothers-in-law Don Perkins and wife Cynthia and Kevin Perkins and wife Kerry; many nieces, nephews, cousins; and especially Whisky Willow, her puppy.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her mother-in-law Nancy Perkins.
A celebration of life visitation will be held on Sunday, January 12, 2025, from 1-5 PM, at the Oakland Community Building. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Children’s Nebraska Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is assisting the family.
