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Donna Mae Kuehn
YANKTON, S.D. — Donna Mae Kuehn, 82, Yankton, S.D., beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died May 15, 2024, at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton.
Private family funeral services will be held. Burial of her cremated remains will be in the St. Boniface Cemetery, Menominee.
Family and friends were invited to Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Onsite Crematory, Yankton, May 23, for a celebration of Donna Mae’s life, with food and memory sharing.
Donna was born Oct. 30, 1941, at her home in Crofton, to proud parents, Myron and LaVonne Kruse.
Donna married the love of her life, Jerry Kuehn, April 23, 1966, with whom she shared many beautiful years until his passing. Together, they welcomed their daughter, Melissa, into the world, who became the focal point of their lives.
Donna was an approachable and social person who loved visiting with anyone. The visiting did not end until she knew someone’s entire life story, and this made her a well-known success in her long career of retail.
Her retail journey began with Wallbaum’s Drug Store, Treasure Chest, Fantle’s, manager of Rexall Gift Shop, finishing her career with her life-long dream of opening her own store, Donna Mae’s Lingerie. Donna Mae’s was a notorious shop in Yankton for the “ultimate and intimate” experience. People came to Donna Mae’s for lingerie, to visit, and even to find the unforgettable voice behind the radio ads. Donna Mae’s Lingerie was a memorable chapter in Donna’s story, until her retirement in 2000, to spend more time with her family.
In her retired years, Donna’s hobbies included sewing needlepoint and her love for games. She played nearly any card games, Rumikub and dominoes; and she taught anyone willing to learn. She especially loved to play with her granddaughter. A requirement of all family gatherings was games.
Donna’s life was guided by her faith and love for God. A photo of Jesus was displayed on her dining room table. She talked to Jesus daily knowing she could “do all things through Christ who strengthens her.” She was dedicated to praying for the safety and health of her family. Her devotion to God continued until the end.
Donna is survived by her daughter, Melissa (Corey) Stratman; granddaughter, Camarie (Tanner) Fischer; great-grandsons, Oli and Kaz Fischer; sister, Dori Rowland; sisters-in-law, Norma (Dean) Sime and Cheryl (Art) Bottolfson; and many nieces and nephews.
Donna was predeceased by her husband, Jerry Kuehn; parents, Myron and LaVonne Kruse; brother, Danny and Janice Kruse; in-laws, Leonard and Anna Kuehn; and uncle, Marvin Kruse.
In lieu of memorial gifts, a donation can be made to St. Jude in her memory.
