Donna Pero's Obituary
Donna Ruskauff Pero of Tampa, FL, formerly of Christiansburg, VA, was welcomed by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, into her heavenly home on November 4, 2025.
Donna was born on July 30, 1934, in Meeker, Colorado, to Joseph Albert Ruskauff and Beryl Templeton Ruskauff.
She graduated from Carbon High School in Price, UT, in 1952. She attended Radford University in Radford, VA, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master of Science as a Reading Specialist. Later she received certification as a Reading Recovery Specialist at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Donna worked in elementary education for 30 years. During her career with Montgomery County Schools in Virginia, she taught second, third, and fourth grades. She went on to supervise the county’s Chapter 1 and Reading Recovery programs and taught the Reading Recovery method as an adjunct instructor at Virginia Tech. She was recognized for her excellence in teaching with numerous awards throughout her career.
In her free time Donna had many interests which included downhill skiing, reading, writing, traveling, working puzzles, shopping, and quilting. After retirement, she moved to Florida to be closer to family. At that time, she joined Bible Study Fellowship and discovered the joy of personal Bible Study which deepened her faith in Christ. One of her favorite activities was leading a weekly Bible study at an assisted living facility near her home, a ministry she continued well into her eighties.
Donna was active in her church, Messiah Lutheran, serving on the altar guild, as a greeter, and teaching children’s Sunday school. She was a certified Stephen Minister and received the Lutheran Service’s Good Samaritan Award in 2012. A treasured highlight of her life was a trip to the Holy Land accompanied by her daughter as a part of a group from Messiah Lutheran.
Even with her many pursuits and accomplishments, Donna’s most cherished role was as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She expressed her devotion to her family in countless sacrificial ways with her boundless energy, compassion, and generosity. She loved celebrating holidays and birthdays and showered her love on others through thoughtful, carefully chosen gifts. Also, near and dear to her heart were her beloved dogs who provided devoted companionship throughout her life.
Survivors include her three children, Stephen Pero, and wife, Robin of Brooksville, FL, David Pero, and wife, Donna of Dunedin, FL, and Andrea Cress, and husband, Doug of Wesley Chapel, FL. Donna was the proud Oppie/Grammy to 7 grandsons, John, Isaac, and Jospeh Cress, Nicholas and Brittan Pero, Lucas and Matthew Pero, and great-grandchildren William and Mikayla Cress. She was preceded in death by her younger brother, Ronald John Ruskauff, “Rusty”, of Farmington, UT.
A funeral service will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church, 14920 Hutchison Road, Tampa, FL, on November 13 at 1:00 pm, with Pastor Mark Adrian presiding. Entombment will follow at Trinity Memorial Gardens in New Port Richey, FL.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Bible Study Fellowship.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the caregivers and staff at Arden Courts at Tampa and AccentCare Hospice for their compassionate love and care of Donna in her final years.
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