LaDonna Pape

LaDonna (Donna) Eleanora Lugg Pape passed away Saturday at the age of 85 at Sheboygan Progressive Care Center, where she had resided for the past ten years. Donna was born on June 21, 1930 to Arthur Lugg and Ruth Clish Fenninger Lugg. She graduated from North High School in 1948. She was united in marriage to William August Pape on June 16, 1951. She was a member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church. Donna was a creative person who was young at heart. In her early career, she worked in the offices at the Kohler Company, as well as being a freelance photographer for regional newspapers. She also taught private clarinet lessons for the Sheboygan school system, and participated in a community band. Between 1953 and 1999, she published approximately 70 children's picture books and puzzle books for all ages, often in collaboration with her writer friends she met through her involvement in the Sheboygan County Writers' Club. She won two awards from the Council for Wisconsin Writers in the children's picture book category. In 1993 she was recognized for 30 years of service in the Wisconsin Regional Writers' Association. She was very proud of a letter she received from Buckingham Palace in 1988, thanking her for the children's books she had sent to Prince Henry and Prince William. For many years in the summer, she taught a course in children's writing at the School of the Arts at Rhinelander. At the nursing home, Donna would amuse the staff and residents by reciting limericks she had invented. One of her favorites was: A Scotsman named Kelly O'Kunder Made an embarrassing blunder. He said, "I wore kilts While parading on stilts. Now no one must wonder what's under." Donna was preceded in death by her parents, a brother (James Lugg), her husband, infant son (David), daughter (Jan Rickert), and grandson (Brian Rickert). She is survived by two daughters, Diane (Paul) Sears of Eagan, MN and Jean (Michael) Wentz of Green Bay; four grandchildren: Tracy (Baron) Amweg of Elkhart Lake, Holly (Brad) Knecht of Plymouth, Kathleen (Tony) Larson of Eagan, MN, and Escher Wentz of Green Bay; two great-grandchildren, Anslee Rickert and Jackson Larson; and a sister, Joan Weeden of Austin, Texas. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at Ballhorn Funeral Chapels. Pastor Helen Nickel of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, will officiate. A time of visitation and support will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service. Entombment will follow at Gardens of Peace Mausoleum. A memorial fund has been established in her name. Donna's family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the outstanding, caring staff at Sheboygan Progressive Care Center. She truly enjoyed living there.