Donna Renee Stephan

Donna Reneé Stephan, age 96, passed away peacefully on December 19, 2025 at Touchmark Senior Living Community in Appleton, Wisconsin. She was born May 20, 1929 in Chicago, to Robert and Martina Niemann.

Donna graduated from Maine Township High School in Park Ridge, Illinois with the class of 1947. She attended Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education in 1951, and later attended Northern Illinois University, earning her Master of Education. Donna married Robert F. Stephan (Bob) on October 18, 1952, at St. Ita’s Catholic Church in Chicago. Bob preceded her in death on September 17, 2018.

Donna worked as a devoted elementary educator her entire career, predominantly at Countryside School in Barrington Hills, Illinois. In addition to teaching, she provided children with speech therapy services, and during the summers, developed reading curriculum for the school district.

Donna and Bob built their family home and raised their five children in Barrington Hills, Illinois. Their home was a place filled with love, laughter and constant activity. Family gatherings were treasured by Donna and she served as the heart and the glue that kept the family close.

The couple retired to Southern Pines, North Carolina in 1990 where Donna volunteered as President of the Moore County Literacy Council, and served on the Seven Lakes Architectural Committee. She enjoyed golfing and playing bridge with friends, and found peace with her favorite hobby, hand-crafting pine needle baskets. Donna and Bob were consummate hosts, with a steady stream of family and friends in and out of their home overlooking the ninth green at Seven Lakes Country Club.

Donna’s greatest joy in life was being the mother to her five children and later grandmother to her 18 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. She was a devoted Catholic Christian woman who never missed Sunday mass and with her devout husband Bob passed the gift of faith to her family.

She will be remembered as a deeply caring mother and friend, always focusing with great empathy on each individual person who crossed her path. Innumerable lives have been changed by her attentive friendship and delightful humor, often with sage advice on navigating life’s challenges. Donna leaves behind so many who think of her as a beloved best friend, a guiding light for whom all things were going to be “just fine”, and any problem could be solved through patience, love and concentrating on the gifts we have been given. Her prioritization of close family relationships will be an inspiration to us forever.

In addition to her parents and husband, Donna was preceded in death by her beloved twin brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Doris Niemann. She is survived by her five children, Bob (Cathy) Stephan of Wausau, WI, Rod Stephan (Kristine Clark) of Hawthorne Woods, IL, Bart (Becky) Stephan of Parker, CO, Gary (Candy) Stephan of Seneca, SC, and Martina (Jim) Kotek of Appleton, WI.

A mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday January 2, 2026, at 11:30am at St Pius Catholic Church, 500 W Marquette Street, Appleton. Friends and family may gather at the church from 10:00am until 11:15am.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Donna can be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

The family is profoundly grateful for the diligent and loving care and support provided by the entire staff and residents of Touchmark Senior Living Community in Appleton.