Racine – Donna Mary (nee: DuQuette) Zehren, age 78, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday morning, September 24, 2013 following a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Donna was born in Milwaukee on August 28, 1935 to the late Stanley and Gladys (nee: Trembley) DuQuette. She graduated from St. Mary's Springs Academy in Fond du Lac in 1953 where she was Prom Queen. As challenging as it was, Donna proudly attended her 60th class reunion this past Friday.

On May 7, 1955 in St. Louis Catholic Church – Fond du Lac, she was united in marriage with the love of her life, David Stanley Richard Arthur Zehren, who preceded her in death on December 29, 2009.  Donna was employed as an executive secretary at Twin Disc for many years until her retirement in 2000.

With a profound Christian faith, she was an extremely active member of St. Lucy Catholic Church for over 20 years, where her family were the founding members of the 9:00 am "Mass on the Grass" guitar choir. For the past several years, she was a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. Donna was also a member of the International Administrative Assistant Professionals. Among her interests, she enjoyed playing cards – especially Sheepshead and Bridge; walking at Regency Mall; participating in Festival of Trees and the Twin Disc July 4th Parade Float; and had a life-long love of swimming. Above all, Donna cherished being in the surroundings of her entire family and friends.

Surviving are her children, Beth (William Trojanowicz) Zehren, Peter Zehren, John (Amy "Lexi") Zehren, Jen (Steve) Olson; son-in-law, David Paap; grandchildren, Alisa (Kevin) Bendickson, Kevin Paap, Thomas (Diedre Carr) Surendonk, Laura (Dominic Corrao) Paap and Addison Zehren; great-grandchildren, Aidan, Brady and Ashlyn Bendickson; sister, Carol (Ralph) Steffen; brother, Thomas (Joyce) DuQuette; sister-in-law, Mary (Harold) Miller; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends – too numerous to mention all by name.

In addition to her parents and husband, Donna was preceded in death by her beautiful daughter, Jane Paap, on April 13, 2002; sisters-in-law, Rose (Kenneth) Diette, Carol Zehren, Mary Zehren and Audrey (John) Kremer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 10 am in St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 6400 Spring Street, with Rev. Terrance J. Huebner officiating. Interment, next to her beloved David, will take place at 1:30 pm on Saturday in St. Martin's Cemetery – Ashford, WI. A reception will follow. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Friday from 5-8 pm and in the church on Saturday from 9-10 am.

A special note of thanks to Esther, Melinda, Seasons Hospice and to everyone else who cared for, prayed for, and supported Donna during her journey with cancer. May God bless all of you!