WINONA LAKE – Donna Hahn doesn’t want fame or fortune for her recently published book, “A Gift Returned: My Master’s Robe.” Instead, she wants readers “to become believers, true believers, that He was our Savior.” A native and 1944 graduate of Pierceton, Hahn came from a farm family of 10. “We weren’t taken to church, but God was in our home,” she said in an interview Jan. 30 in her Winona Lake home. “We were taught morals and got a good Christian upbringing. I went to youth group and that’s where I became interested in church.” She met her husband, Irvin, in 1950 at a college hangout in Michigan. After helping put her husband through engineering school, she became a full-time homemaker to their two daughters. Irvin’s engineering opportunities moved them around so they lived in Fort Wayne, Grand Rapids, Muncie, Wabash, Detroit and finally Warsaw. At the end of his career, Irvin worked in the Defense Department. In 1985 she wrote the original manuscript for her book on her portable typewriter on the patio. It took her the whole summer. She submitted it, but it was rejected because “they weren’t publishing religious books at the time,” she said. She held on to it while Irvin kept on her to get it published. In 2007, she lost her husband to cancer and one of her daughters died from a cardiac arrest. Irvin was her biggest cheerleader. “He encouraged me to be everything I could be,” she said. Finally, in September 2013, Hahn submitted her book again for publication. Dorrance Publishing Co. Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., accepted it. She rewrote it and it was shortened down from about 116 pages to 70. After 28 years of waiting, “A Gift Returned” came out Dec. 2. Hahn said Matthew 13:55 prompted her to write the 70-page book in the first place. The verse mentions the names of Jesus’s four brothers, and Matthew 13:56 mentions he has sisters. She said it made her realize that Jesus came from a large family like her. She wanted to tell about Jesus and his close relationship with his family, especially his mother, Mary. “I direct it toward young people and new Christians because we don’t get to them at all,” Hahn said. A member of Warsaw Church of God, which is across from Warsaw Community High School, Hahn said she thinks about the young people at the school whenever she goes to church. The book is historical fiction, combining what the Bible says and Hahn’s idea of what was occurring at the time. “I was advised not to by a minister because that’s just not done. But when someone tells me no, that makes me more determined,” Hahn said. She said she is not trying to change the Scripture, but embellish a little so it’s more interesting to young people. “It’s my point of view, what I got from the Scripture, what the Scripture said and my idea of what was happening at the time,” she said. Hahn said she’s given or sold about 100 copies of her book. She would like to speak to groups, like literacy, church or youth groups, about the book and what it’s about. “I’m not a scholar but I’m really interested in it because He’s the answer and we don’t really listen to Him. We’ve turned our backs on Him,” she said. Hahn turns 88 next month. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, granddaughter and two grandsons. “We do OK. We always get someone who needs a family so we take in strays. I just pray for the world,” she said. “I had good teachers, wonderful parents and I hope I’ve been a good parent.” “A Gift Returned: My Master’s Robe” is available online at barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com Hahn said she hopes to get some copies for sale at the Tree of Life bookstore in Winona Lake. She hopes to do some book signings as well. “This is His book,” she said. “He’s in charge as my life has been. I’ve had a good, good life.” To contact Hahn for a book signing or to be a guest speaker, email her at nana.nine@gmail.com
