Donna Mae Ascheman

Donna Ascheman, age 62 of Kensington, Minnesota, passed away Saturday, June 29, 2024, at Fairview Health Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN.

Visitation for Donna Ascheman will be held Friday, July 5, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Morris, MN.

Visitation will continue from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Morris, MN.

Funeral services for Donna Mae Ascheman will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Morris, MN.

Interment is in The Church of the Visitation Catholic Church Cemetery in Danvers, MN.

Donna was born on September 15, 1961, in Ortonville, Minnesota, the daughter of Delmer and Bernice (Rieman) Reese. Donna was raised outside of Ortonville, growing up on Big Stone Lake. She graduated from Ortonville High School in 1979 before attending Minnesota State University Moorhead for Early Childhood Education. After graduating, Donna stayed in Moorhead where mutual friends introduced her to Michael.

September 6, 1986, Donna said, “Yes!” to Mike at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ortonville Minnesota. Reverend Donald Johnson officiated the ceremony which was also overseen by Father Fred Fink. Once married, they moved to New Hope, Minnesota, where Donna continued to be a merchandiser for Kmart until moving back to Holloway in 1987. Donna went back to school in 1989 at the Minnesota Academy for the Deaf in Faribault, Minnesota, to learn sign language. Donna had a passion for children and teaching. While struggling to conceive their own children, Donna poured her heart into teaching the children around her, which is why she learned to teach sign language. In 1990, she welcomed the first of four children, Laura, Melissa in 1991, Nicholas in 1993 and Mitchell in 1996.

Donna spent her time chasing after the four kids, and what free time she had was spent doing crafts or at church. If you called the home phone and she didn’t answer, you knew to call the church and that’s where she would be. She loved to paint pumpkins, sew Halloween costumes, water her flowerpots, and teach Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. Donna made sure to include her children in all these activities as well, right down to sending a friendly reminder to water the plants in their homes. Donna signed the kids up for 4-H, which meant entering crafts, baked goods, and plants in the County Fair. She loved sharing these passions with anyone who came into her life.

After Donna finished teaching, her time was spent running family members around to doctor appointments and taking Aunt Ada around the countryside to see family. She loved spending her time with Aunt Ada while she waited for grandkids. Donna lived for her grandkids. There was nothing she loved more than taking Maizee Sue to Preschool at Zion Lutheran Church, following Liam and Landon around the farm, baking with Sloane and weekend sleepovers with Nova. Donna was known for telling Maizee, Sloane and Nova that she wanted a Girl Party which meant sleep over at Mimi’s or Auntie’s cabin.

Donna had many traditions, and one was to plant flowers as a family on Mother’s Day Weekend. The morning of May 11th, Donna suffered from an Aortic Dissection and was flown to the University of Minnesota Medical center. She spent the next seven weeks with Mike by her side as she fought to heal. She passed away on Saturday June 29th surrounded by her family.

Donna leaves behind her husband: Michael; her children: Laura (Nate) Ascheman of Horace, ND, Missy (Brent) Koehl of Morris MN, Nick (Kayla) Ascheman of Hancock, MN, and Mitch Ascheman of Hays, KS; five grandchildren: Maizee Koehl, Liam Ascheman, Nova Ascheman, Sloane Koehl, and Landon Ascheman; siblings: Wanda Reese of Alexandria, MN, Virgina Hodgson of Alexandria, MN, and Betty (Doug) Wittnebel of Ortonville, MN.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Delmer and Bernice Reese; Aunt: Ada Rieman; many aunts and uncles; great nephew: Nicholas Michael; and three infant angels.

Arrangements are with Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson, MN.