Donna M Bragg

~~     Donna Bragg, 70, died at home on Sunday, June 22nd, 2014. She was born September 25, 1943, in Oakland, Nebraska, to Earl and Louise Marie (nee: Case) Hale.  Donna graduated from Blair High School, Blair, Nebraska, and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Graduate Schools of Banking and Bank Administration in Madison.  On August 22, 1965, she married her high school sweetheart and best friend, Leon Bragg, at the First Methodist Church, Blair.  They were blessed with two children, Stephanie in 1969 and Jonathan in 1981.
     Donna worked for many years in banking, starting at Washington County Bank, Blair.  She and Leon moved to Racine in 1967 where she began work at West Racine Bank.  She worked for over twenty years for the Johnson Financial organization, first joining as Cashier at Heritage National Bank, and last serving as Vice President- Retail Operations for the holding company.   In 2001, Donna began a second career working for Girl Scouts of Racine County as Chief Executive Officer.   Following the merger of four councils in 2007, she was Chief Financial Officer of Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast, retiring in 2009.
     Donna was a lifelong member of Kappa Delta Sorority, and Girl Scouts of the USA.  Her volunteer service included budget panel member and campaign cabinet member of United Way of Racine County; The Prairie School auction;  Board member and President of the Racine Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (now Focus on Community); and, Finance Chair, Treasurer, and President of Girl Scouts of Racine County.   As Long Range Planning Chair for the Racine Girl Scouts, Donna facilitated the planning for the new Trefoil Oaks Program Center and later, as CEO, the actual construction of the new building.   She was awarded the Appreciation Pin and the Thanks Badge, Girl Scout’s highest honor for volunteer service.
      Donna was most proud of her children and granddaughter and their development into independent thinkers and confident, kind, and thoughtful adults.  She had very special memories of many family dinners, celebrations, road trips to Nebraska and California, visits to Washington, DC with daughter Stephanie, to London with son Jonathan, and to New York City to celebrate granddaughter Meaghan’s 18th birthday.   Donna treasured the friendships that were sustained over many years and celebrated through travel, outings to art events, the Florentine Opera, concerts, Nebraska and Packer football games, Brewer baseball games, game nights with the girls, dining out or in, shopping or simply through “checking in” e-mails.   Donna was a life-long explorer and learner through her love of books, music, art and travel.    
     Survivors include her daughter Stephanie Hupp, Manitowoc, son Dr. Jonathan Bragg, Kenosha (Michael Chu), and granddaughter Meaghan Hupp, Madison.  She was preceded in death by her husband Leon in 2006, her father in 1985, her mother in 2006, and brothers, Donald Hale, Rancho Cucamonga, California, in 2008 and Earl E. Hale, Langley, Oklahoma, in 2013.  She is further survived by nephews, nieces, other relatives and dear friends. 
     To honor Donna’s wishes, a private service was held.  Remembrances of Donna may be directed to the Racine County Girl Scout Trust Fund c/o Girl Scouts of Southeastern Wisconsin, 131 S. 69th St., Milwaukee, WI 53214, or  Focus on Community, 1220 Mound Ave., Racine, WI 53404.