Donna Marie Wulf

In Loving Memory of Donna Marie Wulf

A Life Well-Lived

Donna Wulf passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on January 21, 2025 at the age of 81. Donna was a beloved wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, sister, and friend. Her passing will leave a void that will be deeply felt by all who knew and loved her.

Donna was born on September 12, 1943, to Lincoln and Esther Schmidt in Pierre, South Dakota and raised on her parent’s farm just north of Draper along with her seven siblings. Donna’s parents were honest, dependable, hard-working people who raised their children to value and live by those same traits. While attending Draper High School, Donna took a job at a neighboring farm on weekends and school breaks where she would clean and take care of the owner’s children. While working at Floyd Fouss’s farm, she would meet the love of her life, Donald Clare Wulf, Jr. (Don), who was a full-time ranch hand.

After graduating from Draper High School in 1961, Don and Donna were married on October 28, 1961, and began a life together that would span the next 63 years. In the early years, Don’s job would take them to several different cities, including Watertown and Mitchell, South Dakota as well as Marshall, Minnesota. After having their two sons, Darin and Daniel (Dan), they settled in Fort Pierre, South Dakota to be closer to family where they would reside until 1979.

Wanting a better life for their children, they moved to Gillette, Wyoming so that Don could pursue a career working at the coal mines. Donna took a job at Campbell County Hospital working in laundry services in 1980 where she would become a dedicated, hard-working and at times, a bit of a prankster for the next 20 years. People who worked with her enjoyed her sense of humor and still remember her smile and laughter.

After her retirement, Donna enjoyed more time doing the things she loved, like her weekly rummage sale runs and browsing through thrift stores with her friends in search of the cheesy, romance novels she loved to read (cue the photo of fabulous Fabio!) as well as sewing, crocheting, and camping. Donna loved loading up the “camper of the moment” (her and Don were always on the lookout for the next best thing!) and hitting the road for a visit with family or friends, or just an adventure for the two of them. Donna loved spending time with children most of all. Whether it be her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, or someone she had just met she would laugh and play with them until she was exhausted. All the children loved her beautiful smile, genuine laughter, and playful nature. She was truly a blessing to those who called her mom and Grandma and to her husband, Don, who has loved and cared for her faithfully for the last 63 years.

 Donna is survived by her beloved husband, Donald Wulf, Jr. of Gillette, Wyoming; sons, Darin (Bonnie) Wulf of Gillette, Wyoming and Daniel (Stacy) Wulf of Forney, Texas; her cherished grandchildren, Jeremy (Megan) Wulf, Janae (Patrick) Marron, Nikki (Damieon) Smith, Trevor (Ariel) Wulf, Zachary (Samantha) Smith, Emily (Dillon) Jordan, Ryan Wulf and 15 great-grandchildren. Her siblings, Dora Lee Dalby, Freda Hendershot, Clifford Schmidt, Kenneth Schmidt and Gloria Dowling as well as a host of cousins, nephews, and nieces who she loved fiercely.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Lincoln and Esther Schmidt as well as her sister, Carol Ann Hamann and brother, David Schmidt.

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 27, 2025 at Gillette Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, January 26, 2025 at Gillette Memorial Chapel. Family and friends are invited to join us in remembering and celebrating the beautiful life of Donna Marie Wulf. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Alzheimer’s Association – Help Fight Alzheimer’s, the Campbell County Home Health & Hospice, or the charity of your choice in Donna’s honor. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716.