Robert L. Donovan
Robert
L Donovan, 83, of Van Dyne, passed away peacefully in his sleep at
Evergreen Retirement Community on Tuesday, February 12, 2019 with his
children by his side.
Robert was born in Fond du Lac,
Wisconsin on October 2, 1935. He was the son of Leo and Rhoda Donovan. On
August 12, 1961, he married Nenatte Moses at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in
Fond du Lac. They celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary prior to
her death on October 14, 2012. Robert was a member of St. Raphael’s the
Archangel Catholic Church in Oshkosh.
Robert was a loving and dedicated
husband, father, and grandfather. He was very proud of his family and
shared family stories often. He was a lifelong farmer, being born and
raised on the family homestead. After starting his family, Robert
expanded the Donovan Century Farm by purchasing the adjoining farm and
starting his own dairy herd. Early in his farming career, Robert was a
recipient of the Wisconsin Successful Young Farmer Award.
Robert was educated in a one room
school house in Van Dyne before attending and graduating from Fond du Lac
Senior High School. He later graduated from the University of Wisconsin –
Madison Agriculture Short Course Program. He was very involved in his
local community and the agriculture industry by serving as the President of the
North Fond du Lac School Board, President of Fond du Lac County Farm Bureau,
and as a member of Associated Milk Producers Incorporated.
He is survived by three children,
Debora (Charlie Stojanovich) Donovan, Sun Prairie; Connie (Jeff)
Donovan-Meisenburg, Van Dyne; Jeffrey (Tamara) Donovan, Bloomington, IL; five
grandchildren, Matthew Stojanovich, Natalie Stojanovich, Michael Meisenburg,
Brenna Donovan, and Davis Donovan; sister Marion Noffke, Oshkosh; two
sisters-in-law, Lillian (David) King, Noel Buetow, both of Fond du Lac; two
brothers-in-law, Fintan Flanagan, Oshkosh and George (Carol) Moses, Fond du
Lac; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his
parents; wife Nenatte Donovan; sister Carol Jean Flanagan; sister-in-law Therese
Delfeld; and three brothers-in-law, Henry Noffke, Danny Delfeld and Kenneth
Buetow.
Robert’s family would like to sincerely
thank the staff at Evergreen Retirement Community in Oshkosh for all of their
support and assistance. Their dedication to compassion and quality care was
greatly appreciated.
Visitation: Visitation will be held from
10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at St. Raphael’s the
Archangel Catholic Church, 830 South Westhaven Drive, Oshkosh.
Service: Mass of Christian Burial
will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at St. Raphael’s the
Archangel Catholic Church, 830 South Westhaven Drive, Oshkosh. Burial
will take place in Calvary Cemetery, Fond du Lac.
Additional information and guest book may be
found at www.ueckerwitt.com.