Dona May Gjertson
May 7, 1924 – December 4, 2021
Dona May Gjertson, age 97, of Iola, Wisconsin, died Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, at Wells Nature View Assisted Living in Marshfield, Wisconsin, while under the care of Heartland Hospice.
Dona was born on May 7, 1924, in the Town St. Lawrence, daughter of the late Olaf and Ella (Knutson) Olson.
She was a graduate of Iola High School. Dona worked at Hanson Glove Defense Plant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she sewed parachutes from 1942-44. In 1946, she graduated from the Milwaukee School of Beauty Culture. She worked at Vernae Beauty Shop and the Iola Beauty Shop.
She married Herman Gjertson on June 7, 1947, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Iola.
After their marriage, she assisted Herman with bookkeeping for his Morning Glory Distributorship. Dona was a life-long member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Iola. She enjoyed knitting, sewing, and traveling. She and Herman drove yearly to Arizona to visit their daughter Mary and family.
Survivors include: her daughter Julaine (Ron) Varsho, Marshfield; five grandchildren: Dr. Mark (Lili) Schwartz of Tucson, Arizona; Tom Schwartz of Phoenix, Arizona; Steve (Regan) Schwartz of Phoenix, Arizona; Jennifer (Ken) Musana of Lynchburg, Virginia; Kim (Kelvin Santiago) Varsho; 10 great-grandchildren: Colby, Samuel, Couper, Jacob, Caden and Addison Schwartz of Arizona; Elizabeth, Isaiah and Jacob Musana of Virginia; Brady Varsho-Santiago of Wisconsin; one sister LaVonne Waller of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. She is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Besides her parents, Dona was preceded in death by her husband Herman, daughter Mary Schwartz, son-in-law Leonard Schwartz, sister Ethelyn Suits, and brothers-in-law George Suits and Alan Waller.
The Funeral Service for Dona will be held on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Iola with Rev. Karen Rendall-Zutz officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be held directly at the church on Saturday from 10-10:45 a.m. Memorials may be directed to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Voie Funeral & Cremation Care of Iola is assisting the family with the arrangements.