Donna M. Getter

Donna Mae Getter, age 92, of Viroqua, passed away at Bethel Oaks on December 8, 2023, surrounded by family. She was born in Brush Hollow (Webster Twp) to Frederick Henry and Mildred Beulah (Florand) McGarry, June 6, 1931. She grew up in Brush Hollow with the West Fork of the Kickapoo river running through the farm. They all enjoyed the "community" swimming hole that would pop up each summer just across from the farmhouse. Donna married Norman Getter on December 18, 1948. Donna and Norman farmed 66 years, working rental farms until 1961, when they bought their own farm in Brush Hollow from Norman's mother. That farmhouse was less than two miles from where she was born and less than a mile from her parents’ (and grandparent's) home farm. When Mom said we were going "over Home", we knew that meant we were going to Grandpa and Grandma McGarry's house.

Norman loved farming and Donna worked long hours beside him, along with raising a family of six children. Grandma always had cookies in the corner cookie jar waiting for the kids and adults when they visited. Donna would be in the house and Norman would issue a piercing whistle that could be heard across the valley when he needed help with something at the barn. They raised tobacco as well and the duty of providing the morning coffee break with homemade snacks, lunch, afternoon coffee break with homemade snacks, and dinner to the crew was itself an all day job for Donna. Those meals were referred to as morning lunch, dinner, afternoon lunch, and supper in our valley vernacular

She enjoyed doing ceramics and would go to local craft shows and fairs to sell her beautiful works of art. She sewed clothes for her three daughters and quilted with family and friends. She altered costumes for daughter-in-law, Sherry Getter's high school plays and was also the family barber, cutting hair for multiple generations, girls and boys. Richard would say he had the same barber for 50 years. She was a member of the Viroqua Church of Christ and her volunteer work included helping manage the food for Church gatherings. We found notebooks filled with her notes on all the necessary food and job assignments to make the events run smoothly. She volunteered at the food pantry and enjoyed helping provide for those in need. She enjoyed working in her large garden, but she did not like the snakes. Canning the garden produce, as well as chicken and beef, kept her pressure cooker busy in the fall. Norman and Donna enjoyed following their children and then their grandchildren to sports, concerts, and other activities.

Donna is survived by two sons: Richard (Lynette), Roger (Jacqueline) of Viroqua; three daughters: Ruth (Jim) Schneck of East Troy, Linda (Ronald) Townsend of DeSoto, and Lisa (Michael) Bausch of Viroqua; 15 grandchildren: Jerrod (Jennifer) Getter, Jennie (Craig) Voter, Jonah (Ashley) Getter, Nicole (Dan) Hewitt, Jason Getter, Leslie (Michael) Getter-Hendrickson, Jessica (Christopher) Huschka, Joshua Hanson, Travis (Jill) Knutson, Patrick (Heather) Townsend, Chelsea Lockington, Claire (Matt) VanWormer, Mandy (Jim) Prinz, Elissa (Jesse) Yakish, Brenna (Jeremy Iverson) Bausch; 36 great-grandchildren; one brother, Conrad (Karen) McGarry of Nekoosa; two sisters, Harriet Storer of Newton Falls and Carol (Gary) Deaver of Brush Hollow; sister-in-law, Elly McGarry of Salinas, California; and sister-in-law, Charlotte Getter of Viroqua.

Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Norman; her son, Rodney and his wife, Sherry; parents, Frederick and Beulah McGarry; her sister, Shirley McGarry; her brothers, Michael McGarry, Larry McGarry and wife, Annabel; brother-in-law, Ray Storer; and brother-in-law, Fritz Widner.

We would like to thank the staff of Bethel Oaks for their nearly six years of kind care. Thank you to the St. Croix Hospice for their assistance and care through Mom's final months.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Brush Hollow Cemetery Association or Bethel Home Foundation in Donna's memory.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 15, 2023, at the Viroqua Church of Christ. Pastor Andrew Pratt will officiate. A visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. Donna will be laid to rest at Brush Hollow Cemetery next to her husband.

Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home & Crematory in Viroqua is serving Donna's family.

123 W. Decker Street

Viroqua, WI 54665

(608) 637-2100