Donna Mae Gertrude Stepien

Obituary

Donna Mae Gertrude (Gieseke) Stepien was born on November 6, 1928, in Gibbon, Minnesota.  She was the daughter of Walter and Selma (Friedrichs) Gieseke.  Donna was baptized as an infant on November 25, 1928, by Pastor Henry Boettcher at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, and later was confirmed in her faith as a youth on April 18, 1943, by Pastor Wohlfiel at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. She attended grade school in Gibbon, Winthrop and New Ulm, Minnesota, and then graduated from the St. Paul Public School with the Class of 1946. 

On June 22, 1947, Donna was united in marriage to Lawrence “Larry” John Stepien by Rev. E. H. Streufert at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glencoe, Minnesota.  Donna and Larry made their home in Glencoe, Minnesota.  Their marriage was blessed with four children, Steven, Kathryn, Judith and Robert.  Donna and Larry shared over 72 years of marriage.

Donna was a loving wife, mother and homemaker. She wrote Braille for 35 years, first by hand, using a stylus and punching each dot. Years later, she used a Braille typewriter.  Once her children were older, she worked at State Farm Insurance in Glencoe for many years. Donna was an active member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glencoe.  As her ministry to the church, she proudly served as a member of the First Lutheran Missionary Society/LWML since 1947, taught adult Bible classes from 1965 to 2010, and helped with quilting at the church.

Donna loved being at the cabin at Lake Minnie Belle, fishing, playing cards, including bridge, and sewing.  She sewed baby clothes for hospital stillborn babies. Donna cherished the time spent with family and friends, especially loving the little children.

Donna passed away on March 31, 2020, at GlenFields Living with Care in Glencoe, Minnesota, at the age of 91 years, 4 months and 25 days.

Blessed be her memory.

Donna is survived by her:
Husband, Lawrence “Larry” Stepien of Glencoe, MN;
Children:
Steven Stepien and Abby Dahlquist of Hutchinson, MN
Kathy Kruckman and husband Kelly of Glencoe, MN
Judith Finley and husband Jeffrey of Edina, MN
Robert “Bob” Stepien and wife Clarine of Glencoe, MN
Grandchildren:
Amber Kashmark, husband Ryan, and children Emma, Owen and Colton of Bloomington, MN
Suni Stepien, Dominic DesMarais and daughter Destiny of Buffalo, MN
Ryan Stepien and fiancée Kelly McCoy of Richfield, MN
Tony Stepien, wife Stephanie and sons Matthew and Joshua Barlau of Plato, MN
John Stepien, wife Stacia and sons Reed and Ty of Arlington, MN
Brittany Benage, husband Jordan and son Logan of Hutchinson, MN
Numerous brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, other relatives and her many friends.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Selma Gieseke; sister, Betty Noga and her husband, John “Jack”; brother, Dwaine Gieseke.