Donna Baumann

Donna J. Baumann, age 89 of Westfield, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 1, 2022 on the Baumann family farm.  She was born on April 24, 1933 in Westfield to Thomas and Minnie (Erdman) Hamilton.  Donna married Reinhold “Rhynie” Baumann on June 20, 1959 in Westfield at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Growing up in the Russell Flats area, Donna was the last one to survive from her generation. Being on the farm is where Donna met the man of her life, Rhynie Baumann. You would see these two doing everything together. Along with Donna helping on the farm in the Russell Flats area, she also had an occupation at Brakebush Brothers for many years, where she loved working closely with Nancy Brakebush. Donna and Rhynie bought a farm down the road from the original Hamiliton Farm. At that farm they raised their three kids, Larry, Tom, and Lori. Donna and Rhynie always had a busy life with the farm animals, pruning and picking apple trees, and tending the garden. Donna then was a fulltime farmer until the kids got old enough to stay home. After that she went back to Brakebush for a few more years until her first grandson was born! All she wanted was to spend time with Logan. 16 short months later she was blessed with twin granddaughters, Lacey and Lindsay! Nine years later she was happy to meet her last grandson, Trey! Grandma always had a special place in her heart for her grandkids.  The grandkids will never forget all the memories and love grandma gave them. Some of those memories come from sleepovers at the farm, to the many trips and vacations they went on, to being dropped off at the farm after school. The best part about sleepovers at grandma’s was the homemade chocolate malts and popcorn and then waking up to a delicious breakfast. In the spring, she would help the grandkids get the pedal tractors out of the barn and they would ride to the garden and start sowing seeds. After seeding the garden, grandma would play drive thru with her grandkids. Her drive thru always had free popsicles! Then in the summer grandma always had creamy cucumbers for dinner as a reward for all the hard work the kids did in the spring. Fall would roll around and the family would get together to pick apples and squeeze apple cider.  You would always find Donna in the shed polishing those apples for her customers. Then as soon as the first snow fell, Donna would get out her puzzle table where she would spend countless hours putting together the puzzle in her front window. She would watch the kids go down the sledding hill behind the house and have hot chocolate always ready for when they came inside! Along with spending time with her grandkids, she enjoyed watching the Packers, Brewers, and Badgers. However, her favorite team was the Westfield Pioneers when her grandkids were playing. Donna was such a great lady with a heart of gold that many have known.

A visitation for Donna will be held on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Westfield from 9:00 to 10:45 a.m. with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Jesse Davis officiating.  Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Town of Westfield.  In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Donna’s family would like to thank Peggy and all the staff with St. Croix Hospice and Marquette County EMS for their compassion and wonderful care.

Please take a moment to view the online Tribute Wall.  Send your condolences or share a memory of Donna with her family & friends.