Donna Marie (Witte) Kottemann – July 30, 2026
Dear wife of Richard A. Jr.; mother of Katherine, Marcia Schumert (Andrew) and Christine Hill (Andrew); sister of brothers Bill (Lucy) and David (Renee); sister-in-law to John and Marion Kottemann, Steve Kottemann and Rena Rockwell; loving grandmother, aunt and cousin.
Born May 19, 1955 to Ed and Rosemary Witte. A native of Olivette, Missouri, Donna’s family were members of St. Patrick’s Parish in University City. She graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School in 1974. Donna went on to graduate from the of City of St. Louis O’Fallon Technical School of Nursing and obtained her Licensed Practical Nurse Certification in 1979 after which she worked at St. Lukes Hospital in Chesterfield.
She married Richard (Rick) A. Kottemann, Jr. on July 12, 1980. Rick and Donna met at a night cruise on the St. Louis Admiral, August 25, 1978, where they were introduced by mutual friends. After being married, they resided in Rolla, Missouri from 1980-82 while Rick completed his degree at the University of Missouri. During their time in Rolla, Donna worked at the Phelps County Medical Center. On returning to St. Louis, Donna dedicated herself to raising their daughters, Kathy, Marcia and Chris. Once the girls were all of grade school age, Donna took on the role of Health Room Nurse at Seven Holy Founders grade school in Affton, MO, serving in that capacity for over 15 years. Ready for a new challenge, Donna returned to school and graduated from Vatterott College with her Medical Assistant Certificate in 2009. She was subsequently employed at Walgreens Take Care Clinics and enjoyed working there, interacting daily with the public, until retiring in 2018.
In their younger days, family vacations were often spent camping in their travel trailer. Donna enjoyed hiking and was particularly fond of the Colorado mountains. They had a camping lot at Wildwood Estates (formerly Lost Canyon Lakes) and later at Lake Perry in Perry County, MO. As empty nesters, Rick and Donna took many wonderful extended vacations, most often focused on enjoying nature and beautiful scenery of the mountain West and the Great Lakes States, cave exploring, canoeing on Missouri float streams and rock collecting, discovering covered bridges, historic grist mill sites and Civil War battlefields.
There was nothing Donna loved more than being a grandmother to Benjamin (11), Ian (7) and Josephine (3). Seizing every opportunity to babysit, her joy was pulling them around in the wagon or stroller, taking them on day outings, going on various adventures and sharing new experiences. Always one to say, “Family comes first,” she was passionate to carry on family traditions and very much enjoyed making some of the recipes she came to love as a child that her grandmothers brought over from the ‘old country.’
While the girls were in grade school, she applied her love of sewing to create their dance recital costumes and was quite involved in their Girl Scout troop activities. She was very active in the St. Louis Mineral & Gem Society as well as the Gateway Chapter of the Brewery Collectibles Club of America (BCCA). Her enthusiastic fan support of MIZZOU Football, the St. Louis Cardinals, and especially the St. Louis Blues, was infectious to the whole family. She loved collecting Clydesdale horses, model lighthouses from places they had visited and Precious Moments figurines, all of which she often found while happily browsing antique malls and estate sales.
Donna will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her, but her spirit will live on through the lives she touched and the precious memories she was a part of.
Services: Funeral on Monday, August 10, 2026, 9:30 AM at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Catholic Church (4900 Ringer Road 63129). Visitation Sunday, August 9, 4:00-8:00 PM at Kutis South County Chapel (5255 Lemay Ferry Road). Interment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
My deepest condolences to you and the entire family. Donna was always a friendly face and sympathetic ear to me and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to know her. May God hold her in the palm of his hand and may she always be in your hearts.