Donna Bright

Donna succumbed to metastasized breast cancer on February 13, 2017, cutting short her font of perfect love. It would be hard to imagine a better human being.

Donna Rose (Rank) Bright of Greenville Wisconsin was born to the warm embrace of Gillett Wisconsin dairy farmers Carl and Adeline Rank on August 20, 1954. She cherished and inspired everyone in her family beyond measure: husband of 30 years Bill Bright, daughter Jennifer Bright, step daughters Catherine (Carl) Hass of Jacksonville Florida, Melissa (Alan) Hackett of Jacksonville Florida, and Patricia Burlison of Greer South Carolina, brothers Gary (Cathi) Rank of Columbus Ohio, David (Brynne) Rank of Neenah Wisconsin, and Douglas Rank (Linda Sinclair) of Oconto Wisconsin, sisters Mary (Bruce) Bohm of Larsen Wisconsin and Ann (David) Henrichs of Lena Wisconsin. Also embraced by her infinite love were every single member of their families, grandparents now deceased, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, 11 step-grandchildren, and five step-great grandchildren.

Donna was loved, admired, and honored everywhere and by everyone who knew her, friends, coworkers, and neighbors alike. Leaving the farm behind, Donna took a job in Wilmette Illinois at 17, moving to Chicago shortly afterward where she began work for Kraft, married the bully, David Buchanan, and subsequently moved with him to Lombard Illinois. Donna and David divorced after six years. Because she'd excelled at Kraft, Donna was soon chosen to move to Norwich New York to manage the finances of Sheffield Products. Her exceptional leadership there was instrumental in turning that plant around. And there she met Bill. They were married in Skokie Illinois following Donna's promotion to Kraft's midwest sales region. Her work later took her to Kraft headquarters. She and Bill lived in Arlington Heights and Wauconda Illinois, where they resided when her beloved Jenny was born. Donna later took employment as a financial manager at School Specialty, Inc. in Greenville Wisconsin.

Donna was an inveterate crafter. Crewel, cross-stitch, knitting and crochet, tole painting, cake decorating, quilting, photo albums, stamping and card-making, and Zentangles… through it all, she produced perfect examples of each, and created even more perfect friendships.

Funeral Services for Donna will be on Friday, February 17, 2017 at 11:00am at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish, N2385 Municipal Drive in Greenville. There will be a visitation on Thursday, February 16, 2017 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Wichmann Funeral Homes, Superior Street location. Visitation will continue on Friday morning at the church from 9:30am to 11:00am. Burial will be at St. John Catholic Cemetery in Gillett, Wisconsin.

For more information and to express condolences, please visit www.wichmannfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established in Donna's name with donations being forwarded to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 60 East 56th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10022, www.bcrfcure.org.