Karen Margaret Donnell

Karen was born at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac, to Melchior and Julia Schwarz Bloomer of Chilton. She graduated from St. Augustine’s Grade School in 1951, Chilton High School in 1955, and from SAH School of Nursing in 1958. She and Robert Kroes Donnell were married on Sept. 2, 1961, at St. Augustine’s Church in Chilton.



She is survived by her sons: Brian, Shawn, and Kevin, all of Fond du Lac; her sister Christine Zimmerman of San Luis Obispo, California. She is further survived by her nieces Sara Knapp of Fond du Lac and Rachel (Dan) Prodoehl of West Bend, nephews Eric Butcher of Colorado and Luke (Deborah) Huberty of Greendale and her adorable great- nephews and nieces: Paddy, Scarlett, Gabriel, Melchior, Lauren, Declan, Liam, and Colin. She is also survived by many remarkable and dear friends, and by her sweet Goldendoodle, “Rodgers”.



Karen was preceded in death by her much-loved husband Robert on Sept 5, 2001; her parents; a sister, Kathleen, who died in infancy; sister-in-law Joyce Donnell; and brother-in-laws Irvin Huberty and Louis Zimmerman.



Karen worked as an RN at St. Agnes Hospital (Agnesian) for forty-five years in various specialties. She spent the last thirteen years of that working in Home Care, which she really enjoyed. After her retirement she returned to nursing very part time at the Berry House. She also took up amateur photography and computer photo editing. She loved to cook, but could never find the recipe to make the same dish more than once. At least she didn’t waste a lot of time cleaning. When the boys were young, the family traveled with a camper, finally getting a seasonal “campsite” at the ABA in Green Lake, which she enjoyed very much and was lucky to have great neighbors. She traveled to Alaska, California, and the Panama Canal with Bob before his death. She traveled alone to scatter his ashes in Galway Bay, Eire, and then with the Zimmermans and dear friends Bob and Linda Vredenburgh of California; the only continent to which she didn't travel was Australia. Every spring she “invaded” California for a month with Christine. Karen greatly enjoyed spending time with her handsome sons, her best friends Mary Strasser of Onalaska and Julia VanVleet of Fond du Lac, and other wonderful friends - including the “Ladies Who Lunch”, the “Canasta Cuties”, and St. Agnes classmates, among others. She was always ready to go out for lunch.



Visitation will take place on Monday, May 14, 2018 from 9-11 AM at Holy Family Church-Holy Family Parish, 271 4th St. Way, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at the church at 11:00 AM. Cremation has taken place and interment will take place at St. Charles Cemetery at 1:45 PM.



In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Humane Society of Fond du Lac, Hospice Home of Hope, or to your favorite charity.



“Great family, wonderful friends, and chocolate – it doesn’t get any better than that!”