Donna Treinen Kessenich, age 97, passed away on Friday, May 1, 2026. She was born on December 7, 1928, to Edward and Josephine (Schoepp) Treinen and grew up on the family farm outside of Lodi which is now owned by her nephew and is the site of the Treinen Family Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch. She graduated from Lodi High School in 1946 and married Joseph Kessenich on August 11, 1949. Donna stayed at home for many years to raise their six children. When the youngest started school she worked for the US Census Bureau for several years. A talented artist, she painted many beautiful pictures, often nature scenes that decorate her and her children’s homes. After Joe retired, they moved into a condo in Westport where in 2006 she started a years-long project which transformed a weedy pond area on the property into a beautiful 2-acre wildflower garden.

Together Donna and Joe completed the genealogy on the Treinen, Schoepp, Kurth and Kessenich families. Donna was a song leader at Catholic Churches in Escanaba, MI and Union Grove, WI for 20 years. She enjoyed playing the button accordion her mother gave her when she was 11 years old and she enjoyed bridge, euchre and Badger Basketball.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, husband Joseph, two brothers David and Dale and youngest son, Ed. She is survived by her children: Steve (Kris Stueve) Kessenich, Sturgeon Bay; Karen (Tom) Turner, Verona; Jim (Lee) Kessenich, Sun Prairie; Nick (Jeanne) Kessenich, Verona; Mark (Suk Harris), Verona; and sisters Darlene Ballweg and Pauline Ballweg. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 30,2026 at 11:00 a.m. at St Mary of the Lake Catholic Church 5460 Mary Lake Rd. Waunakee. Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. Burial will take place in St Patrick’s cemetery in Lodi.

Special thanks to Home Again Assisted Living in both Waunakee and Columbus and Agrace Hospice for their kindness, care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lodi Valley Historical Society and Agrace Hospice.