Ishpeming – Donna J. Rosten, age 81 of 717 W. Empire St. Apt. 101B, passed away on November 5, 2015, at the Marquette County Medical Care Facility under the loving care of her family and U.P. Home Health and Hospice.

Donna was born May 17, 1934, in Ishpeming, MI the daughter of the late Lawrence and Anna (Kuisti) Tousignant. She was a graduate of Ishpeming High School, Class of 1952. Donna was a lifelong Ishpeming resident other than a few years spent in Oklahoma while her husband was in the service, during which time she worked as a typist for the United States Army. While in Ishpeming, Donna was mainly a homemaker, taking care of her family's needs, but worked at Miners' First National Bank & Trust Company of Ishpeming and later did catering locally.

Donna was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church. She was an avid reader and enjoyed doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles, as well as traveling in her younger days. She was very talented at sewing, knitting, crocheting, painting children's wood blocks and ceramics. She made Barbie doll clothes and Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, as well as stuffed animals for her family and friends. In her later years she liked to go dancing, but mostly loving to be around her grandchildren.

Donna was instrumental in helping develop the Deaf Education Program of the Upper Peninsula in the 1960s, assisting to recruit other deaf parents from across the Upper Peninsula to make a large enough class in Negaunee so that her son and other deaf children in the area did not have to attend school in Flint away from their families.

Survivors include 3 children – Michael Rosten, Ann (Rennie) Kulju both of Ishpeming and Jon Rosten of Glendale, CA; 3 grandchildren – Christopher (Bill) Kulju of Hancock, Stephen (Abby) Kulju of North Liberty, IA and Kathryn Kulju of Ishpeming; along with several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Francis D. Rosten, daughter Becky Rosten, sister Bernice Seidentopf, and brothers – Albert "Tar" and John "Jack" Tousignant.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 2 until 3 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10, 2015, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Ishpeming, where a Memorial Service will follow at 3:00 p.m. with the Rev. Lauri O. Maki to officiate. Interment will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery. A luncheon will follow in the church hall.

The family thanks the staff members and caregivers who took care of Donna including the U.P. Home Health and Hospice, Marquette County Medical Care Facility, Bell and Marquette Hospitals, along with Pastor Maki for his comforting words during his visits.

Donna's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.

The funeral service recording, when it becomes available, can be found here .