Donna Jean Hartshorn

Donna Jean Hougas Hartshorn, 93, died Friday, February 21, 2025 at her home in St. Germain, Wisconsin. She was in the presence of loved ones as she passed in her house from natural causes, just as she told her family she would.

Services will be at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home in Ottawa on Thursday, February 27, 2025, with visitation from 10 a.m. to noon with a funeral service at noon. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa.

Born May 21, 1931 in the family's Stavanger, Illinois farm house to Marvin and Hartha (Jacobsen) Hougas. Donna was the second of six children. She attended Seneca High School where she first met Dean Capsel, whom she dated as a teen and would reconnect with later in life.

After graduating in 1949, Donna moved to Ottawa where she rented an apartment with her best friend Jean. She met and fell in love with George Hartshorn. They wed at St. Columba in Ottawa in 1952. They shared two children, Denise Hartshorn Barr and Kevin Hartshorn.

Upon George's retirement in 1993, the couple moved to St. Germain, Wisconsin to enjoy the many lakes and variety of wildlife they fell in love with while vacationing in the Northwoods for many years.

Just like her mother, Donna was known to be a wonderful cook, making many delicious holiday meals as well as weekday suppers. Her artistic pursuits extended beyond the kitchen. Donna designed and made hats back when it was in fashion, enjoyed sewing dresses for her granddaughter and painted woodworking crafts created by her husband George. Throughout her life Donna was an avid reader with her favorite genre being romance. She loved flowers and enjoyed bird watching, especially humming birds visiting her feeder.

Following her husband's death in 1999, she and Dean Capsel reconnected, spending 26 years together.

She is survived by her partner Dean Capsel of St. Germain, Wisconsin; daughter Denise Barr of Ottawa; son Kevin (Troy Sheehan) Hartshorn of Kissimmee, Florida; granddaughter Annette Barr of Ottawa; grandson Ryan (the late Stephana) Barr of Hennepin; great-granddaughter Lena (fiancé of Logan Cox) Barr of Toluca and great-grandson Hunter Barr of Hennepin; sisters Betty Pitstick and Karen Rock of Ottawa and brother Ken Hougas of Naperville.

Donna was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, George Hartshorn; her parents Marvin and Hartha (Jacobsen) Hougas; brothers Marvin Hougas Jr. and Leslie Hougas.

Memorials may be directed to the family or the American Cancer Society.