Donna Roush

Donna B. Roush (nee Ward), age 83 passed away Thursday, August 17, 2017 peacefully at Shorehaven Lutheran home in Oconomowoc Wisconsin with loving family members present. She was born August 19, 1933, in Souix City, Iowa. She was a 1951 Graduate of East High School of Souix City. She was blissfully married to Richard A. Roush for 37 years until his sudden passing on July 11, 1991 at 57 years of age. They lived happily together in Greendale, Wisconsin before moving to Delafield where they built their dream home on Lake Nagawicka. They especially loved summer time on the lake with hours of boating, swimming and hosting barbecues filled with loving, laughing family and friends. After Richard’s untimely passing, she fulfilled their desire for milder winters by moving to Florida. There she continued her work as a part-time retail sales person while enjoying the warm weather and beaches. Since then, she has resided on both U.S. coasts enjoying life with a love of golf, painting (especially flowers in watercolor medium), taking walks on the beach while collecting beautiful shells, and volunteering in hospitals to assist all in need. She is survived by three sons: Steve (Betty) Roush of Southport, NC, Jeff (Tanya) Roush of Sonoma, CA and Brad (Shari) Roush of Dousman, WI. She was pre-deceased by son Dennis Roush in 2012. She was blessed with seven loving grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Her son Dennis, was born January 2, 1959 with Cerebral Palsy and other physical afflictions which ultimately honed her life’s focus towards finding every way possible to help others with similar challenges. In 1961, she organized a group of mothers living in the Rockford, Illinois area that had children with similar afflictions and was instrumental in establishing one of the first of its kind schools dedicated to these children, solely focused on meeting their needs. She secured a room at a local church, and transportation for the children thru the local Red Cross. After this organization began to be to be more prominent, there were organizations such as Easter Seals and Winnebago County Cerebral Palsy School which provided equipment needed and further support. Over time it became a wonderfully embraced community endeavor. She was an inspiration in life as she always found time and effort to volunteer wherever needed in order to help others, and continued to do so until she no longer was able to. Donna Roush’s expressed wish was to be interned at Willwood Burial Park in Rockford Illinois next to her beloved husband and son Dennis, in a private family service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to charities such as Special Olympics of Wisconsin, or others furthering the support of Cerebral Palsy and children with special needs.