AGE: 84
ADDRESS: 491 24th Street North Wisconsin Rapids, WI Former Town of Westboro Resident
DATE & PLACE OF BIRTH: December 13, 1927 in
Westboro, Wisconsin
PLACE, DATE & TIME OF DEATH: 11:06 A.M. Saturday, October 13, 2012 at the Pine Ridge Assisted Living, Wisconsin Rapids where she had resided for the past 1 ½ years. Dean was surrounded by her loving family and under the care of Ministry Home Care Hospice.
TIME & PLACE OF FUNERAL: 11:00 A.M. Saturday, October 20 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Rib Lake, WI
OFFICIATING: Father Otto Bucher and Deacon Mark Priniski
PLACE OF BURIAL: St. Ann’s Cemetery in the Town of Greenwood, Taylor County, WI
VISITATION AT: 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. October 19 at the Good Shepherd Church, Rib Lake, WI where there will be a 7:00 P.M. Parish Rosary Service, and also from 10:00 A.M. until mass at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, October 20 at the church.
EDUCATION: Attended Westboro Grade School and was a 1945 Graduate of Westboro High School
MARRIAGE INFORMATION: June 1, 1946 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Rib Lake, WI to Regis Conrad Niggemann. Regis preceded her in death on January 30, 1988.
PRINCIPAL EVENTS IN LIFE: Donaldean and Regis raised their 13 children on a family dairy farm in Westboro, WI. Throughout her life she was employed by several local establishments finding her true calling when she joined Hope Hospice, under the directorship of Barb Meyer. Dean enjoyed 15 years of devoted service to Hospice retiring at the age of 73.
She was an accomplished seamstress. Dean lovingly created many gorgeous ensembles for her family, most notably designing and stitching wedding gowns and other elegant attire, traveling as far as Lake Tahoe, Nevada and Cape Town, South Africa to complete her beautiful creations. She was the Lucky Lakers 4-H sewing leader for 30 years teaching several generations of children the art of sewing.
She enjoyed many keen interests; patchwork quilting, knitting, embroidery, and rosemaling, to name a few. She was a very skilled baker and candy maker. For many years her children’s’ teachers looked forward to their Christmas gift box of homemade candy.
She was a world traveler. Her bags were always half packed and ready to leave at a moment’s notice, especially to visit her many children and grandchildren, taking their poker money, and leaving them with full hearts and many fond memories. A mean wordsmith, she was never far from a crossword puzzle or Scrabble board. When younger she was an avid huntress enjoying walking through the woods, tracking deer and demonstrating her fine marksmanship.
Donaldean was a generous, kind, loving woman who deeply cared for her beloved children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends and neighbors. She was her family’s first and finest teacher; teaching life’s many lessons from the beginning of our life until the end of hers.
MEMBER OF: Donaldean was a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Rib Lake, WI for her entire life. She was active in the Christian Mothers Organization and a participant in numerous ministries.
SURVIVING CHILDREN: Sons: Douglas of Wauconda, IL. Bruce (Lynn) of West Dundee, IL., Mark (Katharine) of Johnsburg, IL., Paul (Linda ) of Murfreesboro, TN., James (Conni) of Elgin, IL., Regis (Ane) Niggemann II of Milwaukie, OR
Daughters: Ramona (Martin) Silvester of Crystal Lake, IL., Barbara (William) Howlett of Jonesboro, GA., Beth (Timothy) Thomas of Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Lorie (Bruce) Neumann of McFarland, WI, Cynthia (Steven) Mathews of Gardnerville, NV., and Debra (Richard) Quinn of St. Charles, IL.
29 Grandchildren, 10 Great-Grandchildren
Son-In-Law: George Gavas of Wauconda, IL.
SURVIVING BROTHERS/SISTERS: Richard Arlen (Marie) Trepanier of Lombard, IL, and Mari Louise VanKleek of Rosemont, MN.
PRECEDED IN DEATH: FATHER: Donald J. Trepanier, MOTHER: Marcella Trepanier (Maiden Name Hochstetler), BROTHER: Neil Trepanier, DAUGHTER: Cheryl Gavas, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW: Gayle Niggemann (Maiden Name Nelson)
PALLBEARERS: Sons and Son-In-Laws: Douglas, Mark, James and Regis Niggemann II, Martin Silvester, William Howlett, George Gavas, Timothy Thomas, Steven Mathews, Bruce Neumann and Richard Quinn
OTHER INFORMATION: In lieu of flowers, please make donations payable to Hope Hospice.
Hemer Funeral Homes of Rib Lake and Medford is assisting the family with arrangements.
-For online condolences, please visit hemerfuneralservice.com
