Donniella “Donna” Ivana (Ruzic) Martens, 82, of Junction City died October 2 after a short illness.

She was born November 12, 1935, in Willard, WI, daughter of Ivan and Angeline (Artac) Ruzic. Donna married Hilbert “Bert” Martens in 1957 in Willard.

After Greenwood High School Donna graduated from UW-Eau Claire/ Medical Technology. She completed her internship at St Mary’s Deaconess, Milwaukee. While taking care of her family she worked at Tacoma General Hospital, WA, Mercy Hospital Janesville and Marshfield Clinic, WI. Donna was active in civic affairs including Portage County Home and Community Education (over 50 years), as well as Saint Michael’s Catholic Church’s Altar Society/PCCW, and many church committees. She sang passionately in the church choir. At retirement she read for the WI Bookworm program for 15 years and coordinated the Junction City Blood Drives for Blood Center of Wisconsin. She sang with the Monteverdi Chorale for 30 years and the Norma Singers. Having a passion for nature, birding, ecology and preservation since childhood, she was a board member and avid participant in the Aldo Leopold Audubon Society and attended the spring birds class at The Clearing near Ellison Bay, WI yearly. Donna was a 4-H parent for all her children and a club leader. Environmentalism, gardening, and history/genealogy were also deep passions. Donna was a life-long learner, cherishing her time at UW-SP LIFE Classes, traveling to over 40 countries and staying strong at the YMCA of Stevens Point.

Survivors include her five children: Steve (Jan Koss) Martens, Stevens Point; Teri (Joe) Kopfman, Fort Lupton, CO; Elena (Dan) Martens, Aliso Viejo, CA; Maureen Martens, Boca Raton, FL; and Lyn Martens, Stevens Point; three grandchildren, Skye and Reed Kopfman, and Drake Martens. Donna is also survived by her two brothers: Ivan Ruzic Jr. and Gary (JoAnn) Ruzic.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

A Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 27 at Saint Michael’s Catholic Church, Junction City. Burial will be at a later date in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Junction City. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service, as well as 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., October 26, at Martens/Rembs Funeral Home, Junction City. A Celebration of Life gathering will take place October 27, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the All Purpose Lodge, Iverson Park (at the top of the sledding hill), 4201 Hwy 66, Stevens Point.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Donna Martens to:
Mead Wildlife at www.meadwildlife.org or Friends of Mead/McMillan, S2148 County Hwy S, Milladore, WI 54454; Monteverdi Chorale at www.monteverdichorale.org or P.O. Box 205, Stevens Point, WI 54481-0205; or an organization of your choosing.

Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com