Obit: Martens, Donniella "Donna" #2 (1935 – 2018)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Martens, Ruzic, Artac, Koss, Kopfman

Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Abbotsford, WI) 10 Oct 2018

Martens, Donniella I. "Donna" (12 NOV 1935 – 2 OCT 2018)

Donniella Ivana “Donna” (Ruzic) Martens, 82, Junction City, died on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018, after a short illness. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27, at Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in Junction City. Burial will be at a later date in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Junction City. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service, as well as from 4-8 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 26, at Martens/Rembs Funeral Home, Junction City. A celebration of life gathering will take place on Oct. 27, from 12:30-3:30 p.m., at the All Purpose Lodge, Iverson Park (at the top of the sledding hill), 4201 Hwy. 66, Stevens Point.

Donniella Ruzic was born on Nov. 12, 1935, in Willard, the daughter of Ivan and Angeline (nee Artac) Ruzic. She married Hilbert “Bert” Martens in 1957 in Willard. After Greenwood High School, Donna graduated from UW-Eau Claire/medical technology. She completed her internship at St Mary’s Deaconess, Milwaukee. While taking care of her family she worked at Tacoma General Hospital in Washington, Mercy Hospital in Janesville and Marshfield Clinic. Donna was active in civic affairs including the Portage County Home and Community Education (over 50 years), as well as Saint Michael’s Catholic Church’s Altar Society/PCCW, and many church committees. She sang passionately in the church choir. At retirement, she read for the Wisconsin Bookworm program for 15 years and coordinated the Junction City blood drives for Blood Center of Wisconsin. She sang with the Monteverdi Chorale for 30 years and the Norma Singers. Having a passion for nature, birding, ecology and preservation since childhood, she was a board member and avid participant in the Aldo Leopold Audubon Society and attended The Clearing near Ellison Bay, Wis. yearly. Donna was a 4-H parent for all her children and a club leader. Environmentalism, gardening, and history/genealogy were also deep passions. Donna was a life-long learner, cherishing her time at UW-SP LIFE Classes, traveling to over 40 countries and staying strong at the YMCA of Stevens Point.

Survivors include her five children: Steve (Jan Koss) Martens of Stevens Point, Teri (Joe) Kopfman of Fort Lupton, Colo., Elena (Dan) Martens of Aliso Viejo, Calif., Maureen Martens of Boca Raton, Fla., and Lyn Martens of Stevens Point; three grandchildren, Skye and Reed Kopfman, and Drake Martens; and two brothers: Ivan Ruzic Jr. and Gary (JoAnn) Ruzic.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Donna Martens to: Mead Wildlife at www.meadwildlife.org  or Friends of Mead/McMillan, S2148 County Hwy S, Milladore, WI 54454; Monteverdi Chorale at www.monteverdichorale.org  or P.O. Box 205, Stevens Point, WI 54481-0205; or an organization of your choosing.