Donna R. Wallace

Donna R. Wallace, 79

WESTLAKE VILLAGE-Donna R. Wallace, 79, of Westlake Village, rural Winnebago, died on Sunday, February 14th, 2021. She was born in Rockford, Illinois on October 15, 1941, the daughter of Ray and Blanche (Nelson) Robbel.

In 1963 Donna married James P. “Jim” Wallace. Together they had three children. While raising children they had horses, rabbits, dogs, cats, and beef cattle. Donna enjoyed living in the country and gardening.

In 1981, Donna and Jim bought a lake lot in Hayward, Wisconsin. They spent the next decade and a half building a cabin for their family to enjoy. Donna loved her time at the cabin and being on the lake. She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Donna had a strong work ethic and enjoyed working. She worked many different jobs throughout her career retiring from Bergner’s in 2018.

In retirement Donna enjoyed doing Sudoku, crossword puzzles, drinking coffee, reading the daily newspaper, watching the wildlife on the lake, and spoiling her cat Lil’ Girl.

Donna is survived by her son, Jim (Spring) Wallace of Rockford; daughters, Sherry (Steve) Gorman of Pecatonica and Julie (Kirk) Gilson of Des Moines, Iowa; four grandchildren, Zachary, Mallory, Emily, and Nicholas; sister, Diane Hill of Rockford; brothers, David Robbel of Rockford, Raymond (Vixanna) Robbel of Winnebago, Richard (Karen) Robbel of Winnebago, and Ronald (Karen) Robbel of Bend, Oregon; sisters-in-law, Mary Beth Mihalik and Cathy Wallace; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her parents, Ray and Blanche Robbel; father and mother-in-law, Phillip and Mary Wallace; sister-in-law, Joan Warner; brothers-in-law, Bill Mihalik, Tom Wallace and Dennis Warner.

A private family graveside service will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter, www.alz.org/illinois or Paws Humane Society Rockford, Illinois, pawshs.org would be greatly appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, 3910 N. Rockton Avenue, Rockford, IL 61103. Share online memories and condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com