Donna Mae Korthauer

Donna Mae (Allen) Korthauer, 76, died on Saturday, November 24th in Winona, MN. She was the first of four children born to Donald and Mildred Allen of Mindoro, WI. She married Armin Korthauer in September 1956. They moved to Eitzen, MN where they bought their first farm and started their family. They moved to Houston, MN in 1965 where they were active members of the community. Armin passed away in 2002 and Donna moved to Winona in 2003 to be closer to family. Donna and Armin raised five strong children of whom they were very proud. Their children brought 14 grandchildren and two great, grandchildren into the family. Armin and Donna were even more proud of their grandchildren. Donna worked as a secretary for the Trane Company, Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, the Houston Gazette, Bluff Country Veterinary Clinic, Western Wisconsin Technical College and Houston County Group Homes. She was an incredible cook who could do amazing things with a slim pantry. Her interests included cooking, gardening, knitting, politics and the latest news about her grandchildren. She also enjoyed frequent visits with her mother, family and friends. She loved traditions and knew that they were a way to keep her family close to her and to each other. She was not afraid of death and smiled when we talked with her about being reunited with Armin. She will be greatly missed. Donna knit many hundreds of baby sweaters for Lutheran World Relief. When we think of her, we will think of brand new babies from all over the world who have worn her sweaters and we will smile.Her family would like to thank the staff at Lake Winona Manor who took care of Donna this year. They would also like to thank the friends, family, clergy, singing groups and musicians that visited her at Lake Winona Manor. She felt loved and you gave her something to look forward to while she lived there. She was preceded in death by her father, Donald Allen and husband, Armin Korthauer.She is survived by her mother, Mildred Allen of Holmen, WI, her 3 siblings; Dorothy Langie of Columbia Heights, MN, James Allen (Diane) of Holmen WI, Jerry (Ellen) Allen of Cary, IL,She is also survived by her 5 children; Richard (Margaret) of Mondovi, WI, Dale (Lisa) of Stewartville, MN, Gary (Karen) of Savage, MN, Janet (Thomas) Freudenstein of Shakopee, MN and Carol (Mark) Polodna of Winona, MN; 14 grandchildren, Matthew (Keegan) Korthauer, Laura (Austin) Gilmour, Kathryn Korthauer, Samuel Korthauer, Amber Dean, Sarah & Michelle Korthauer, Christine Freudenstein, Heidi (Pete) Woods, Kurt Freudenstein, Emma Freudenstein; Taylor, Connor & Morgan Polodna; 2 great-grandchildren, Hayden and Lana and many nieces and nephews.A Memorial Service of Remembrance will be held at Central Lutheran Church in Winona on Saturday, December 1 at 10:30 a.m., with the Reverend Michelle Rem officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m., Friday at Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service in Houston and also one hour prior to the service at church on Saturday.In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Friends of the Houston, MN Public Library, Heifer International or the American Cancer Society. Please share a memory of Donna with her family and sign the online guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/352608