Donna Jean Lindauer (Wienkers) said goodbye on April 20, 2022, at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, after a valiant battle with ovarian cancer. 74-years-young, Donna was born on June 16, 1947, in Dodgeville, Wisconsin to Merle and Mary Wienkers (Pink).

A proud graduate of Iowa-Grant High School, Donna went on to take classes at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. In 1967, she married Gary Lindauer, the love of her life – a title soon shared with their son, Christopher, upon his birth in 1974.

With an infectious smile that lit up every room, Donna’s innate warmth and kindness was felt tangibly by all who were fortunate to meet, much less know her. She always put others before herself, leaving a positive impact on everyone in her orbit, near and far.

To Donna, family was everything. Embracing the role of matriarch after their mother’s untimely death in 1971, she nurtured a fun, loving, loyal family dynamic that will carry on in her honor for generations.

Married for 54 years, Donna & Gary not only raised Christopher, they shared a relationship built on love and trust, maintained a close group of friends, loved to travel with said friends and family, and always made sure to do their part to make a difference in their community. Donna was absolutely committed to making the world a better place, through actions big and small. An admirable quality informed by her love of history, her voracious appetite for reading, and her insatiable thirst for life-long-learning and knowledge.

The majority of Donna’s professional life unfolded at Monson Construction, where – as Vice President – Donna was instrumental in the company’s success. Donna loved to volunteer, serving as a long-time board member and officer at Verona’s Rhapsody Arts Center, as well as regularly reading to the young students at Glacier Edge Elementary.

Donna’s memory will be cherished in the hearts of her family and friends as she will no doubt continue to watch over Gary, Christopher, his wife Kim and her granddaughters, Linsey and Taylor. She will forever be alive in the memories of her siblings Peg (Kim) Rickard, Steve (Robin) Wienkers, and Susan (Brian) Nagel; as well as nieces, Chelsey Rickard, Mary Wienkers and Stephanie Wienkers; and nephews JJ Wienkers-Alvendia (husband Alex) and Garrett Nagel (wife Morgan and their sons, Finley and Archie). Donna loved animals and was especially fond of their family dog, Snoopy, who is most certainly keeping her company, once again.

Donna is proceeded in death by her father Merle, mother Mary and our grandma Pat.

The family would like to thank the numerous family and friends who were there for Donna and her family throughout her courageous battle with cancer; you all mean so much to her. This gratitude extends, in no small part, to Dr. Weber, and her team at SSM Health, and Agrace Hospice for helping make Donna’s last days peaceful and pain free.

Please join us in celebrating Donna’s life on Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 1:00-4:00 PM, at Dahmen’s at Hawks Landing, Verona, WI.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (www.ocrahope.org) or the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (https://alzfdn.org), two causes that Donna would be grateful to see supported. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Verona Chapel

220 Enterprise Drive

608-845-6625

Donna Lindauer

June 16, 1947 - April 20, 2022

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