Donna Mae (Merten) Schmitz, age 86, of Fond du Lac, formerly of rural Mount Calvary, passed away with her family at her side on Sunday, June 5, 2022, at the Hospice Home of Hope in Fond du Lac. She was born November 21, 1935, in the Town of Marshfield to Clemens & Eleonora (Haensgen) Merten. On November 27, 1954, she married Alvin A. Schmitz at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Mount Calvary. Alvin preceded her in death on December 22, 2017. Donna had worked at the Villa Loretto Nursing Home in Mount Calvary and Nielsen Company in Fond du Lac. She was a member of Our Lady of the Holyland Parish-Holy Cross Church in Mount Calvary and the Christian Women's Society. She loved to watch the Milwaukee Brewers. Her faith was very important to her; she prayed the Rosary daily. Survivors include her seven children, Sandy Thuermer of Malone, Michele "Micky" Keifenheim of Fond du Lac, Nancy (Mike) Petrie of Mount Calvary, Mark "Sparky" (Barb) Schmitz of Fond du Lac, Kevin (Brenda) Schmitz of Malone, Shelly (Scott) Schrage of Malone, and Gary (Stephanie) Schmitz of Mesa, AZ; 18 grandchildren, Kris (Matt) Giese, Brian (Danielle) Thuermer, Sara Thuermer (friend, Scott), Kelly (Jake) Bink, Brooke (John) Kraus, Amber Keifenheim, Adam (Heidi) Keifenheim, Nicole (Matt) Schneider, Jason (Stefanie) Petrie, Cody and Casey Bowen, Cory (Chelsea) Bowen, Meghan and Mason Schmitz, Keifer and Makenzie Schrage, and Ashton and Addison Schmitz; 19 great-grandchildren; her brother, Alex (Fran) Merten of Oshkosh; and a sister-in-law, Mae Schmitz of Fond du Lac. Donna is further survived by many nieces; nephews; other relatives, and friends. Preceding Donna in death were her parents, Clemens & Eleanor Merten; her husband, Alvin A. Schmitz; two sons-in-law, Ronald "RT" Thuermer and Mark "Red" Keifenheim; her brothers, Lester, Leroy, Delbert, Vernon, Willard, Harold, and Albin Merten; her sisters, Orlena (Albert) Burg, Gladys (Leo) Birschbach, Zelda (Claude) Casper, Muriel Merten, Evangeline (Ken) Fritz, and Glendola Merten; her father-in-law & mother-in-law, Mathias & Ottilia Schmitz; four sisters-in-law, Marcella "Sally" (Paul) Wagner, Elizabeth "Elsie" (Vernon "Bud") Sippel, Bernetta "Nettie" (Sylvester "Sonny") Pauly, and Virginia (Donald) Rahmer; nine brothers-in-law, Alex (Viola) Schmitz, Alfred "Fritz" (Marion) Schmitz, Arnold (Marjorie) Schmitz, Ambrose "Sam" (Helen) Schmitz, Andrew (Zona) Schmitz, Alphonse (Rosie) Schmitz, Anthony "Tony" Schmitz, infants, Albin Schmitz, and Arlyn Schmitz. A Liturgy Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 AM on Saturday, June 25, 2022, at Our Lady of the Holyland Catholic Parish-Holy Cross Church, 308 S. County Road W, Mount Calvary, WI 53057. Rev. Randy Knauf, OFM Cap will officiate. Donna will be laid to rest next to her husband, Alvin, in the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery. Visitation: Family and friends may visit with Donna's family at the church in Mount Calvary on Saturday, June 25, 2022, from 9:00 AM until 11:15 AM. For further information, please contact the Sippel Funeral Home in St. Cloud (920) 999-2291 or visit www.sippelfuneralhome.net.