LaDonna Meinders
LaDonna Kramer Meinders was born in Okeene on Aug. 16, 1936, to Ewald and Alma Kramer of Loyal and passed at home on Oct. 29, 2024. She was 88.
Growing up on a farm overlooking the Cimarron River in Kingfisher County, LaDonna attended school in the small town of Loyal and began her many years of teaching piano and playing for her church.
She attended Oklahoma City University where she studied piano with Dr. Clarence Burg, wrote for the campus newspaper and was honored to be named homecoming queen for the OCU Chiefs basketball team.
During her late college days at OCU, she won two state titles: Oklahoma Maid of Cotton and Miss Oklahoma in 1956.
LaDonna holds two degrees from OCU: a bachelor of music and (later in life) a master of business administration. She also received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from OCU in 1996.
Married in 1957, LaDonna returned to Kingfisher with her husband William J. Gooden and raised four children: Mark, Lori, John and Joe.
A talented musician, LaDonna’s career has covered many fields of music – from performance to private teaching. She served as organist for Kingfisher First Christian Church for more than 20 years.
The highlight of her concert career was a performance at the Kennedy Center during America’s Bicentennial Celebration in 1976 with piano duo partner Ellen Jayne Wheeler.
In the early 1980’s La-Donna returned to Oklahoma City University as the alumni director. There, she met Herman Meinders and they married in 1986. This spring, they celebrated their 38th anniversary.
LaDonna published four books: Leaves in the Wind, about growing up in rural Oklahoma; Angel Hugs, a book of devotional readings; Angel Hugs for Cancer Patients, a book of encouraging meditations for persons suffering from cancer; and most recently What Would You Do If a Kangaroo…, a collection of whimsical poems for children, created in collaboration with her college roommate Betty Walls Boyd.
In 2007, LaDonna was honored to be named as Oklahoma Mother of the Year.
She enriched the life of her community and state through many philanthropic projects, undertaken jointly with husband Herman and service as president of the Oklahoma City Orchestra League and member of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Board. She also served five years on the Volunteer Council for the National Orchestra League.
LaDonna was a committed Christian. Her faith led her to strive to make the world a better place.
From shaping her children, enriching her community, inspiring her piano students and structuring her daily activities, she approached all aspects of life with thoughtful intention.
She invested herself in others intellectually, emotionally and financially. Her commitment to betterment inspired everyone around her.
She loved life. She loved her family and friends. Her joyful spirit was felt by all who knew her.
LaDonna is survived by her husband Herman; son Mark Gooden, daughter Lori (Chris) Ode, son John (Jody) Gooden, son Joe Gooden and stepdaughter Christine (Sohrab Nafici) Meinders; grandchildren Ramona (Crystal) Hail, William (Keranie) Whipple, Stark (Jennifer) Kremeier, Michael (Marisabel) Kremeier, Craig (Taylor Reed) Ode, Alex (Sarah Judd) Ode, Valerie (John) Johnson, Aaron (Maryllely Chavez) Gooden, Victoria Gooden and David Gooden; and 10 great-grandchildren plus another on the way. She was predeceased by her parents, Ewald and Alma Kramer, her sister Ruth Evelyn Seideman, her stepdaughter Kathy Meinders and her daughterin- law Regina Gooden.
The funeral was at Oklahoma City University Chapel at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3.
LaDonna’s ashes will be interred at Kingfisher Cemetery, alongside the remains of her parents and sister.