Donna Marie Stehling

1942 - 2025

Donna Marie Stehling

September 14, 1942 - November 13, 2025

SAUK PRAIRIE - Donna Marie Stehling, age 83, of Sauk City, passed away on November 13, 2025, at The Rivers Assisted Living in Portage. She was born September 14, 1942, to the late Kenneth and Florence Wright.

She attended and graduated from St. Francis Catholic School in Milwaukee. Following high school, she went on to attend Cardinal Stritch University, earning a BA in English and French.

Donna was united in marriage to William "Bill" Stehling on August 14, 1965. They went on to raise their family in the greater Milwaukee/Waukesha/Madison area before they eventually moved to Sauk City, where Donna taught English and French and substitute taught in the Sauk Prairie Schools. She went on to become very active in the community in many civic groups, serving as past President of the Sauk Prairie Optimist Club, serving on the Sauk Co. Board of Supervisors representing Sauk City. Donna pursued her storytelling and writing in Sauk City and became the lead news reporter for the Sauk Prairie Star and later the Editor of the Sauk Prairie Eagle.

She and Bill enjoyed the outdoors as well, serving as volunteers at Badger observing and studying blue birds and swallows. She also accompanied her husband serving as members of the Sauk Prairie Civil Air Patrol and Coast Guard Auxiliary. She enjoyed sharing her creativity through drawing, sewing and put together many art displays for local art shows and competitions.

She is survived by her husband, Bill; children, Bethany Clark Stehling, Joy Schultz, Noelle (Nelson) McIntire, Irene (Tom) Pawlisch, Maureen (Al) McCoy, Brennan, Aaron, Steven, and Nicholas Stehling. She is further survived by 12 grandchildren, half siblings, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

In addition to Donna's parents, she was preceded in death by a son in-law and Joy's husband, Bob Schultz.

Donna's family would like to thank the St. Croix Hospice Staff, The Rivers Assisted Living and Inclusa for their care of Donna.

A Memorial for Donna will be held at 2 p.m. on January 10, 2026, at Hooverson Funeral Home, 251 Water St., Sauk City. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until the time of service. Interment will be held in the spring at Calvary Cemetery, Milwaukee.