Donna J. “DJ” Schrum, 79, passed away surrounded by loved ones on Monday, June 28, 2021, after recent medical issues. She was the wife of the late Harry L. “Lee” Schrum, Jr., who passed away in November 2020. They were married for 57 years.
Donna was born in Youngstown, Ohio on September 7, 1941, to the late Charles and Vesta (Donaldson) Wellendorf. Due to her husband being transferred to Pennsylvania in 1983, the family relocated. She held several administrative assistant positions, and in her retirement was a carrier for the Harrisburg Patriot News for over 20 years.
Donna always put everyone’s needs before her own. She kept a book of her loved ones’ special holidays and birthdays and enjoyed sending handwritten cards to make everyone feel loved. She enjoyed bird watching, her small flower garden, and keeping up on her grandchildren’s accomplishments and endeavors. Donna was also a former member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Boardman, Ohio.
Donna was an amazing caregiver to her husband, Lee, and missed him greatly. She was also a loving mother to her children Deb (Mark) Lerchen, Keith (Carin) Schrum, and Brian (Lisa) Schrum, eleven grandchildren, TJ, Karla, Chrisi, and Emma Lerchen, Quinn, Connor, Keely, Kane, Brandon, Elizabeth, and Andrew Schrum, four great-grandchildren, and two sisters, Carol (Sam) Ricciardi, and Sandy (Roger) Byers. She also leaves many other family members, and “adopted” children who will miss her greatly. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee, a sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn (Jim) Cosier, and two grandchildren, LeRoy and Carolyn Lerchen.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 8, 2021, at 12:00P p.m. at Kreamer Funeral Home and Crematory Inc., 618 E. Main Street, Annville. She will be laid to rest with her late husband at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA. There will be a viewing held Wednesday, July 7, 2021, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Kreamer Funeral Home, and again on Thursday July 8, 2021, from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Since Lee’s death occurred during COVID restrictions, the family will also be celebrating his life at the same time.
The funeral service will be livestreamed. Those desiring may begin to livestream at 11:45 a.m. on Thursday by going to www.kreamerfuneralhome.com, clicking on livestream and selecting the Annville location.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Penn State Harrisburg, Benefiting THON, please contact deblerchen@gmail.com for more information. Donna and Harry loved children very much, and this organization helps in the fight against childhood cancer.
