By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WHITE OAK - When Donna Thiemann and her husband, Chuck, became the chairs of St. Xavier High School's 10th annual X-Travaganza dinner auction in 1983, the event realized a 65 percent net increase.

"Donna was an outstanding parent leader at St. Xavier," said Margo Locaputo, director of X-Travaganza. "She was a loving mother who took an active role in her four sons' high school."

During the 1991-92 school year, Mrs. Thiemann served as president of the Mother's Club. And from 1993 to 1995, she was president of the Women's Club.

A grateful administration bestowed on her the Magis Award for her exceptional contributions to St. X.

Mrs. Thiemann died Thursday- her 66th birthday - at Jewish Hospital of a stroke following a stem-cell transplant. She was diagnosed with amyloidosis - a rare blood disorder - in June.

A resident of White Oak since 1975, Mrs. Thiemann she was a native of Louisville, where she graduated from Presentation Academy and Ursuline College.

She was an elementary education major and taught for a year in Louisville. But her calling was to be a wife and mother. She fell in love with Charles L. Thiemann, the boy next door, and married him in 1960. They moved to Mount Airy in 1964 when her husband took a job in Cincinnati. Together they raised a daughter and four sons.

"Donna was a gracious, kind, gentle woman and a quiet leader with great inner strength," Locaputo said. "She was generous and had a habit of keeping in touch with her many friends, always displaying a genuine interest in their children's activities.

"She had a knack for putting people at ease and was well liked by everyone. Most importantly, Donna's children and grandchildren were at the center of her life - her No. 1 priority."

Mrs. Thiemann and her husband were past hosts of the White Oak Garden Tour.

In addition to her husband, survivors include her daughter, Laura Bohannon of White Oak; four sons, Charles Jr. of Loveland, Rodney of Hyde Park, Jeffrey of Hebron and Matthew of White Oak; her mother, Dorothy Timperman of Louisville; a brother, Dale Timperman, also of Louisville; and six grandchildren.

Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Sunday at Nurre-Mihovk-Rosenacker Funeral Home, 5527 Cheviot Road in Monfort Heights. Mass of Christian burial is 10 a.m. Monday at St. James Church of White Oak, 3565 Hubble Road. Burial will be at St. James Cemetery.

Memorials: Donna T. Thiemann Memorial Fund, c/o St. Xavier High School, 600 W. North Bend Road, Cincinnati 45224, or The Jewish Hospital Stem Cell Transplant Program, 4777 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com