Donna Mae Vilstrup,
June 24, 1928 - March 09, 2014
Obituary
MIDDLETON-Donna Mae Vilstrup, age 85, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 9, 2014 at Sylvan Crossings Memory Care in Fitchburg. She was born on June 24, 1928, in Cushing, Wis., to Stanley and Esther Larson. She graduated from Luck High School and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She married her high school sweetheart, Dick, on June 3, 1950. They raised their three children in Middleton after locating to the Madison area when Dick joined the staff at UW Madison. Donna was a dedicated Master teacher, starting with all eight grades in a rural school and finishing with her favorite second grade. She taught hundreds of students of two generations in the Middleton community. She provided leadership at West Middleton School as it grew from the original two room school to the large modern school it is today. Her greatest joy was to see her students succeed and achieve new goals and contribute to the community. She retired in 1987 and survived breast cancer and valiantly fought the ravages of Alzheimers the past ten years. Donna actively participated in a variety of community activities including chairing multiple Red Cross Blood drives and volunteering at Easter Seals, St. Mary’s Hospital, Daughters of Demeter, and the West Middleton Lutheran Church. We all will miss her courage and attitude toward life with never a complaint and always a smile facing life’s challenges. She and the family appreciated the care and comfort of her Agrace Hospice team and her wonderful staff at Sylvan Crossings Memory Center. Without speaking a word she won the hearts of everyone who worked with her. She was an inspiration to us all. Donna is survived by her loving husband, Dick, son Michael (Jacquie), daughters Pam Pautsch and Kris Vilstrup (Rick Matson), sisters Bev Medvec and Norma Johnson, brother Roger Nagel (Donnis), grandchildren Jessica Ammann (Nick), Erik Vilstrup, Adam Pautsch (Rebecca), Breahan Eve Pautsch, Jamie Pautsch, Alex Matson and Karly Matson; step grandchildren Valerie Wulf, Tiffany Wilke (Nathan) and Derek Hildebrandt (Ashley), ten great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and family. She was preceded in death by parents Stanley and Esther Larson, parents-in-law George and Mabel Vilstrup, brother Stanley (Bud) Larson, brother-in-laws Reuben Johnson, Bob Vilstrup, Jerry Medvec, Bernard Schroeder and niece Linda Larson. Memorial Services will be held at WEST MIDDLETON LUTHERAN CHURCH, 3763 Pioneer Road, Verona at 11:00 AM on Friday, March 14, 2014. Visitation will be held on Friday from 9:00 AM until the time of the service at the church. Donations can be made to Agrace HospiceCare, Inc., West Middleton Lutheran Church or to the Alzheimer-Dementia Association. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson West
Funeral & Cremation Care
7435 University Avenue
(608)831-6761
Events
There are no events for Donna yet.
Photos
No photos of Donna have been shared yet.
Memories
JF
Jackson Family
Other •
Please accept our deepest sympathy. May the constant love of caring friends soften your sadness and leave you with fond memories to cherish close to your hearts.
( Isaiah 25:8)
KW
Kristi Warriner
Other •
Whenever the question comes up "Who was your favorite/ most influential teacher" my answer is always immediately Mrs. Vilstrup. She taught the lifelong love of learning through her endless patience and encouragement. That she loved all of her 'kids' was always evident. Her classroom was warm and wonderful, just like her. I was so blessed to have had her at Middleton Junction.
JR
John and Margie Redmond
Other •
Our sympathy on the loss of this very lovely lady, whose life was not ordinary, but rich with greatness and graciousness in every aspect of her life. She will be much missed and never forgotten. It is our great fortune to share beautiful grandchildren with this extraordinary and lovely lady. God bless dear Donna and all the family.
love, Margie and John Redmond
SS
Susan Voss Sprague
Other •
My deepest sympathies to Donna's family. I was blessed to have Mrs. Vilstrup as my 8th grade teacher. She allowed me to study at an advanced level and to assist in the lower grade room at times. I later became a teacher and always remembered how kind she was, in addition to having control of the room. That kindness came to her naturally. I visited her years ago w/ my brother Kim. We personally know the effects of this disease and pray that all your cherished memories of a life well lived give you comfort. I will keep Donna and all of you in my prayers.
Susan Voss Sprague
WS
Wendy Sindberg
Other •
I was very sorry to see that Mrs. Vilstrup had passed away. She was a favorite teacher at Middleton Junction for so many students and such an encouraging and kind person. Mrs. Vilstrup taught all of my siblings, and the only reason I didn't have her for second grade was that that was the year she received her Master's Degree. Mrs. Vilstrup influenced many students lives, and I'm sure that she is loved and missed.
Wendy Sindberg
PG
Pete & Libby Giacomini
Other •
Dick and family... Just now heard about Donna's passing and am sorry we did not make it to her funeral. Donna was a classy lady - eternally positive and always calm and steady. We have missed seeing you both in recent years - I hate how time sometimes separates good friends. Wanted you to know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers -- Pete & Libby Giacomini