Donna M. (Vanderfin) Johnson, 63, passed away at Shawano Medical Center, Shawano, WI, on Tuesday, February 8, 2011. Born on October 2, 1947, in Marinette, WI, she was the daughter of the late John Vanderfin and Louise (Kohls, Vanderfin, Manley) Peters. Donna was raised in Kenosha and educated at St. Marks Catholic Grade School, St Joseph’s High School, and Gateway Technical College. She graduated from Gateway in 1980, with her nursing degree and shortly thereafter she passed her state exam thus receiving her Registered Nurse (RN) license. On April 29, 1967, she married Alvin O. “Skip” Johnson at St. George’s Catholic Church. Donna had three sons, Robert P. (Morgan) Jensen of Minneapolis, MN, Jeffrey M. (Lynn) Johnson and Brian E. (Dena) Johnson, both of Kenosha. Donna worked as a nurse at the old St. Catherine’s Hospital, Brookside Care Center, Woodstock Health and Rehab, and finally accepting the position as the Director of Nursing at HCR Manorcare in Kenosha, WI, where she retired from in 1997. A few years after retiring she moved to Shawano with her husband to enjoy “up close and personal” what God had created. She enjoyed the Green Bay Packers, bowling, knitting, counted cross-stitch, cross word puzzles, and most importantly being with her family. She was a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Shawano, WI. Donna is survived by her husband; her children; and her grandchildren, Brian E. Johnson II and Arizona S. Johnson (son and daughter of Brian), and Altin J. Jensen (son of Robert); her brother, Paul Vanderfin of Biloxi, MS; and a niece, Traci (Vanderfin) Kessler of San Diego, CA. Skip, Robert, Jeffrey, Brian II, Arizona, Altin, Paul and Traci were blessed to have her as our wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. She will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in memory of Donna to one of the following charities; American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association or The Hospice Alliance. Funeral Services will be held for Donna on Tuesday, February 15th, at Proko Funeral Home with visitation from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. and service immediately following the visitation. A private interment will take place on Wednesday, February 16th, at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (SWVMC) near Union Grove.Proko Funeral Home and Crematory5111-60th StreetKenosha, WI 53144Phone: (262) 654-3533Visit Donna’s Online Memorial Book at:www.prokofuneralhome.com
Condolences
Steve & Jeanne Pataska
February 15, 2011
Please accept our sincere condolences on the passing of Donna. She was a fantastic person. Skip and Donna were the best neighbors that anyone could wish for and you were sadly missed when you moved to Shawano. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Nicole Schmaling (zizzo)
February 14, 2011
Mr Johnson and Family , I am so sorry for your loss , as long as I can remember Mrs Johnson she was always nice and caring she always made a point to say hello to us neighborhood kids ,, I always had a lot of respect for her and why wouldn't I she was a Great Lady may she always fly with the angels !! Rest in peace you will never be forgotten ...
sheila shema
February 14, 2011
Dear Skip and family, I shall always be thankful for the opportunity to have met your gracious wife. I worked with Donna at Brookside a few years and was impressed with her medical expertise but, most of all, appreciated her great compassion for patients and families a like. Later in life, I was able to visit her and you with Carolyn Kildew and Pam and even with Donna's own numerous medical burdens and family concerns she had an aura of joy of life and I will always treasure my memories of her. I'm sorry I can not be with you at her memorial in Kenosha but I will out of state. Love, Sheila and Bill Shema