Donallee R. Kuenzi

Donallee Rita Kuenzi, age 94, formerly of Beaver Dam, died on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at Songbird Pond Assisted Living in Plymouth.

Donallee was born on April 9, 1931, at St. Mary’s hospital in Racine to Walter and Delrene (Hamernik) Haworth. She attended schools in Racine, Beaver Dam and Appleton, graduating from Beaver Dam High School in 1949. She attended classes in both Lawrence University in Appleton and Madison Business College. Donallee worked for Community Welfare Council of the United Givers Fund in Madison until she married Orland “Otto” Kuenzi on December 28, 1957, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Beaver Dam. Otto passed away in 1977 and Donallee entered the workforce again, thoroughly enjoying working in the jewelry department of Beaver Dam Shopko from 1981 until her retirement in 1996.

Donallee was a member of St. Katharine Drexel Parish where she was an active member of Christian Life Community Prayer Group. She was a core team member of RENEW. She was actively engaged in her grandchildren’s activities, be it sports (football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, soccer, gymnastics, figure skating, hockey, and tennis) or concerts and performances. She volunteered much of her time with Meals on Wheels and at the Beaver Dam Senior Center Greenhouse. She enjoyed watching the Packers, Brewers, Bucks, and Badgers, going cross country skiing, hiking, biking and bird watching. Donallee was an enthusiastic member of the Friday night dance club at Fox Lake and a was a participant of the HUGS (Hospice Unlimited Grief Support) program.

Survivors include children, Thomas (Deanne) Kuenzi, Manitowoc; Karen (Matthew) Thull, Plymouth; six grandchildren: Nicholas (Stefanie) Muche, Eagle River, AK; Mariah (Keith) Hovland, Glendale; Kirsten (Nick) Pilsner, Mayville; Gabriel Thull, Selfoss, Iceland; Philip Kuenzi, Stevens Point; and Elizabeth (fiancé Adrian Reczek) Kuenzi, Beaver Dam; six great-grandchildren, Berkeley, Parker, Nash, Benji, Hattie, and Tessa; brother-in-law, Norbert Kuenzi, Oshkosh; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; four infant sons; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Nick and Louella Kuenzi; brother-in-law, Fred Dearth; and sisters-in-law, Shirley Dearth and Barbara Kuenzi.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Donallee’s name to St. Katharine Drexel Parish or School.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Songbird Pond Assisted Living and Lily Hospice for their compassionate care of Mom.

The visitation for Donallee will be held at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church, 511 South Spring St. in Beaver Dam on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at the church on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. with Fr. Will Arnold officiating. Burial will be at St. Peter Cemetery in Beaver Dam.