Donna J. Ihrcke

Donna was born and raised in Manitowoc, WI. After high school she attended Carroll College where she majored in sociology. She joined the Alpha Xi Delta sorority and developed lifelong friendships. These women regularly met for lunch for over 50 years. She also met and fell in love with Irl, her husband of 67 years.  She “robbed the cradle” as he was three years her junior and still a senior in college when they got married. They had three children, Cheryl, Jeff, and Todd.  The family went on many camping trips both alone and with neighborhood friends.  She worked at the YWCA, a toy shop, Baskin Robbins, a preschool, Saratoga Elementary School, and Butler Middle School. Long after she retired former middle school students would see her at an event and ask her if she remembered them. She looked the same to them. Her friends were very important to her, and she spent time with them in bridge clubs and informal visits. She was always ready to comfort and support them in times of sorrow and need. She also served as a volunteer for many organizations. But no matter what she did, family always came first. She felt very blessed to have not only her husband and three children but also her eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. She made holidays and birthdays so much fun for them. She attended as many of their athletic events, concerts, and other activities as she possibly could. She and Irl went on yearly vacations to Door County, Minocqua and Panama City Beach, Florida. They also took trips to several national parks and monuments as well as famous landmark cities such as Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York and Branson, MO. She is a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and is greatly missed. Her spirit will live on in all of us.

A memorial service in her honor will be held on October 29 at First United Methodist Church, 121 Wisconsin Ave., Waukesha, WI. Visitation from 2:00 until the 3:00 p.m. memorial service.  If you are attending the memorial service and in need of handicap access, please use the NORTH ENTRANCE.