Donna Sue Krichiver, 76, died peacefully surrounded by family on Oct. 18.
Donna was born to Joseph and Adrienne Cohen of Chicago, Illinois, on Dec. 30, 1947. She graduated from Sullivan High School and Northeastern Illinois University. She married her high school sweetheart, Joel Krichiver, in 1968 even after, on their first date, she bowled a 209 (and no, they were not on “Candid Camera”). Joel’s work took them to Kansas City in 1979.
Donna’s two sons, Brett and Ari, were the joys of her life, and she burst with pride watching Ari’s two outstanding arguments before the Colorado Supreme Court and Brett’s rabbinic ordination. Her grandchildren, Sierra and Jaiden, were the lights of her life on a daily basis.
Donna impacted the lives of all who knew her, including her many friends and the thousands of students who took her math courses over 30 years of teaching mathematics at Johnson County Community College. She inspired many to continue with math and dozens to take careers in mathematics or related fields.
Donna received numerous awards for her teaching excellence and was well respected by her peers. She was instrumental in creating the technical math curriculum at the college, and during one sabbatical, she created a pioneering program exploring strategies for relieving students’ math anxiety. She was an incredibly effective instructor, particularly with older, returning students and veterans.
After many years of serious ballet study during her teen and adult years, Donna was a lifelong supporter of the Kansas City ballet and many other local dance organizations. She was an avid supporter of local theater groups and the arts, and in recent years, a passionate racquetball and pickleball player. She also loved jazzercise and pilates. Donna felt a particular passion for her Judaism and was an active member at Congregation Beth Torah since its inception in 1988.
She deeply appreciated the tremendous support from her many friends during the difficult last months of her illness.
She is predeceased by her parents and survived by her husband, Joel; her sister, Julie (Bill); her children, Brett (Tami), and Ari (Katie); her grandchildren, Sierra and Jaiden; and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Oct. 21 at Mt. Moriah South Cemetery. Contributions may be made in Donna’s memory to Kansas City Hospice, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or Congregation Beth Torah.
