Donna Jean Einum

Donna Jean Einum, 80, of Appleton, Wisconsin, passed away into everlasting peace on the morning of Monday, August 5th, having spent the previous day surrounded by loving family reminiscing about her life growing up on a dairy farm in southwest Wisconsin. Donna was born August 11, 1943 in Blue River, Wisconsin, to Lloyd and Marjory Georgeson. 

Donna attended UW Platteville with pride in the early 1960s, graduating with a degree of Education in English/Speech. She had a great love of the arts and music, in particular the theater, which she enjoyed throughout her life and participated in theater clubs and plays during her college years. Donna married her husband, James Gerald Einum in 1966 and shortly thereafter, when Jim was drafted, spent time in Germany during the Vietnam war period, which she fondly remembered and would often speak of. Afterward, they returned to the States and delved into teaching careers, for which they were both passionate and affected the lives of numerous young people. Donna taught Speech and English at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wisconsin for about 25 years beginning in 1983 up until her retirement in 2008. For some time afterwards, Donna was stopped by students as she was out doing errands, as they would remark that she was a ‘tough’ but wonderful teacher and helped them get over some of their fears of public speaking. Donna valiantly struggled with progressive illness in her advanced years, yet would come to handle it with courage and dignity, always doting on her grandchildren and family, and often remembering things from her childhood, while growing up in the beautiful farm country of Wisconsin. 

She is survived by her son, James Einum, of New Berlin, WI; a daughter, Sarah (Einum) and son-in-law William Larson of Appleton; two grandchildren, William and Cassandra Larson; two brothers, Ron and Fred Georgeson of Blue River and Boscobel, WI respectively; three sisters-in-law, Jo (Ron), Connie (Fred) Georgeson and Jill Einum of Menomonie, WI, and a sister Linda (Georgeson) Acosta-Drummer of Madison, WI; a soon-to-be daughter-in-law Shauna (James) Franklin of New Berlin, and several nieces and nephews.

 Donna was preceded in death by her husband of twenty-six years, James Gerald Einum; her father and mother Lloyd and Marjory Mae (Pippin) Georgeson; a father and mother-in-law, Raymond and Lottie Einum of Menomonie, WI; and brother and sister-in-law Dan and Gail Einum, of Madison. Donna will be greatly missed by those who were fortunate enough to know her.

There will be a visitation for Donna on Friday, August 9, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N. Superior Street in Appleton. There will be a funeral service at the funeral home on Friday at 6:00 PM with Rev. Jennifer DeNetz officiating.