Donna L.

(Bostwick) Hafenstein

Donna L. Hafenstein (nee Bostwick), age 78, of Lake Mills, took her last labored breath on earth, followed by her first deep breath in the arms of her Savior, at her home, surrounded by those who loved and cherished her on Monday, August 3, 2026.

Donna was born July 19, 1948, in Watertown, WI, the second child of Elmer and Violet (Wallow) Bostwick. She was baptized at Immanual Lutheran Church in Farmington, WI and was raised in rural Jefferson, WI. She moved to Lake Mills in middle school and attended St. Paul Lutheran Grade School. She was confirmed at St Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in 1962. She attended Lake Mills High School where she played softball, graduating in 1966.

Donna worked briefly at Schweiger's Furniture in Jefferson driving a fork truck but spent the majority of her adult years as a cook in various restaurants including the Corner Café in Lake Mills, WI, Door Creek Golf Course in Cottage Grove, WI and the Lake Oasis Truck Stop in Lake Mills, WI. It was at the truck stop where she met her husband Jerome "Jerry" Hafenstein, when he was dared to ask her out by a friend. They were married on September 30, 1967. Jerry preceded her in death on September 19, 1994. The couple was blessed with three children, Tammy, Brian, and Brent. Donna's passion was caring for others so when her husband started Hafenstein Builders she became a stay-at-home mom and started watching the children of his employees. This turned into an over 45-year career as in-home day care provider. Donna took great pride in her work of helping to raise her day care kids and they became family to her. In her later years she was even blessed to take care of children of the kids she once watched. Her mac n cheese and rinky dinky hotdish were some favorite meals but it was the best toast in the world most of these kids still remember today. She attended countless birthday parties, confirmations, graduations, bridal and baby showers and weddings of her daycare kids, her granddaughter Mandi often going as her plus one.

Donna enjoyed bike riding, softball, bowling, photography, and golf but her greatest joy came from watching her kids, grandkids, and even great grandkids in their numerous sporting and musical events. She, along with her daughter and daughter-in-law, both named Tammy, attended many of these events and even followed the LLHS marching band on several summer tours. She was an extremely proud granny and could often be heard cheering them on in the crowd.

Donna is survived by her daughter, Tammy (Tracy) Gleesing and children, Angela (Nathan) Hack, Torey (Andrea) Smith, Mandi Smith, Brandon (Miranda) Gleesing and Jackson Gleesing; two sons, Brian (fiancée Renee Quartullo) Hafenstein and children, Daniel (Anne) Hafenstein, Dustin (Lisa) Hafenstein, Laura Hafenstein and Sarah Hafenstein; Brent (Jacki) Hafenstein and children, Jaime Malkowski, Jesse (Emily) Hafenstein, Dakota Strieter and Cole Hafenstein; great grandchildren, Syrhus, Bella, Simon, Milo, Harper, Jace, Elliott, and Baby H expected in December; one brother, Dennis (Darlene) Bostwick; one sister, Dinah Elliott; many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and her much loved bonus daycare families.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry; her parents, Elmer Bostwick and Violet (Louis) Thorman; her sisters, Deborah Dieter and Tara Thorman and her daughter-in-law, Tammy (nee Kuhl Brian) Hafenstein.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at the St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Lake Mills.

Friends may call after 11 a.m. on Saturday at the church until the time of services.

Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Reeseville, WI followed by a Celebration of Life at the Hafenstein farm – Sunset Hill Farm at N4716 Hwy G in Lake Mills. Those not going to the burial can head straight to the farm.

The family would like to thank Pastors McKenney, Nass, and Tomhave of St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church for their prayers, words of comfort, and support; Rainbow Hospice, Amanda and Nicole, her caregiver, Laura Cannoy; Mandi and Andrea and the rest of her beautiful grandchildren who stepped up to care for their beloved nana, granny, granny the Haf. Love you, Spiderman, Rock n Roll, Bottoms up!

In order to continue Donna's great love of supporting local youth, memorials if desired, may be made to the Tammy Hafenstein Memorial Scholarship Fund https://secure.qgiv.com/for/tammyha fensteinkuhlmemorialscholarship through the Lake Mills Community Foundation, or the Lakeside Lutheran Music and Theater Program.

www.claussenfuneralhome.com