Donna A. Volkert

Caledonia Township – Donna A. Volkert, age 73, of Caledonia Township passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, September 28, 2017 after fighting a courageous 9 year battle with ovarian cancer.

Donna was born on September 18, 1944 in Milwaukee, the daughter of Chester and Dorothy (Elsen) Zimmermann. She was united in marriage to Egbert “Ed” Volkert on July 23, 1966. She volunteered as a room mother and served as president of the Athletic Association at St. Mary School. She was a member of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Portage.
Donna’s passion in life was her family, never missing a program, ball game, concert, or opportunity to spend time with them. She especially loved being with her grandchildren, often hosting sleepovers, taking them to movies, and restaurants. She easily made life-long friends wherever she went and enjoyed keeping regular contact with distant family and friends. She never failed to put others before herself, a quality that didn’t waver even as she took her last breaths. She has now been reunited with her husband, from whom she’d been inseparable before losing him in an accident 21 years earlier.

She is survived by her children, Christine (Mike) Barfknecht, Dawn (Bob) Wilcox, both of Montello, and Jason Volkert of Portage; grandchildren, Shawn (Shannon) Barfknecht, Hallie Barfknecht, Alicia Wilcox, Logan Wilcox, and Laci Wilcox; sisters, Sharon (Jerry) Perkowski of Hubertus, Judy (Jerry) Hess of Indianapolis; brothers-in-law, Craig Liberto of Milwaukee, Mike (Margaret) Volkert of West Boylston, MA, Bill (Connie) Volkert of Campbellsport, and Peter (Sherri) Volkert of Oostburg; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many close friends. She was preceded in death by her husband and parents, sister, Joyce Liberto, niece, Tracy Hess, and mother and father-in-law, Rudolf and Erika Volkert.

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Portage, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, October 4, 2017, at 11:00 a.m., with Fr. Gary Krahenbuhl presiding. Inurnment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, which Donna passionately supported.
The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Roy Kim for all of his years of comfort and care.

Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.