Donna Dorothy Jourdain Johnson Stuart Ash was born on September 16, 1945, to Eloi and Dorothy (Freislinger) Jourdain in Chicago, IL. She passed away peacefully on Friday, May 17, 2024, with her family at her side at her residence in Hayward, WI.

Her life-long love of dance, music and art started early. She started dancing at age three. By age eight, she was teaching younger children and assisting her teacher at the Neville Dance Studio. Throughout high school, she performed in USO shows and musicals, eventually meeting Winston Johnson, her first husband, at one of the USO shows. Donna and Winston married after her graduation from Steinmetz High School in 1964, had three sons, Kyle, Kary, and Keanen, and lived in Okinawa during the Vietnam War.

After the war, the family moved to River Grove, IL, where Donna worked evenings in home sales and became a successful manager. At the same time, Donna also followed her creative and artistic talents by performing in local dance productions, as well as designing and making dance costumes. In 1973, just in time for the first Birkebeiner, the family – including her parents – bought and then moved to Big Musky Resort on the Chippewa Flowage in Hayward, WI.

During the years that Donna managed and developed Big Musky Resort, she lost both parents, divorced, and sold the resort. She then enrolled in Western Technical College in LaCrosse, WI, to earn a degree in Interior Design and Architectural Drawing. After she and her sons moved to Spring Valley, MN, Donna worked in Rochester designing and overseeing construction of Grand Kitchens. At the same time, she sang for parties and events in her spare time.

Donna and her sons longed to move back to Hayward, WI and did so in 1983. At this time, she designed homes for Under the Earth Homes in Cable, WI. The shared love she and the boys had for outdoor activities led to frequent adventures, cross-country skiing, fishing, swimming, and – most loved of all – canoeing in the Flambeau River.

In 1985, Donna married retired Air Force Officer Ronald “Bud” Stuart. Donna’s career as an entrepreneur expanded still further when she and Bud managed Northwoods Inn (a/k/a Margaritaville) in Northwoods Beach, WI. She and Bud loved snowmobiling, golf, travel, and dance. Donna and Bud, both VFW life members, enjoyed traveling to many military bases and VFWs across the United Stated.

Eventually, they sold the supper club and purchased Echo Valley Resort in Antigo, WI, where they managed and developed the RV park. Their next transition was to sell the resort and move back to Hayward, WI where they lived on Lac Courte Oreilles until 2000 when they found and purchased their dream home on Island Lake.  After 21 years of marriage, Donna lost Bud to cancer in 2006.

While visiting Big Musky Resort later in 2006, Donna met recently retired Fredrick “Rick” Ash, who had recently purchased a second home in the area and was living at Big Musky Resort. Donna and Rick married in 2010. Their wonderful courtship included frequent travel and seasonal sports, with many trips to Mexico and fabulous times with family and friends snowmobiling, floating the waters on floaties, and pontooning.

Donna has been a pillar in the Hayward community for over 50 years. She truly will be missed.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Rick Ash of Hayward; her children, Kyle (Magdelena) Johnson of Xalapa, Mexico and Kary Johnson of Blaine, MN, her grandchildren, Kori, Kristopher, Kurtis, Kelsey, Michael, Dallas, Kyden and Kaleb; her great-grandchildren; and many dear friends.

In addition to her parents, Donna is preceded in death by her son, Keenan Johnson.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at the Spider Lake Church, Main Street Campus in Hayward, where visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until the hour of the service. Interment will take place privately in Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner, WI.

Memorials may be directed to Spider Lake Church, 10601 Main Street, Hayward, WI 54843.

Last Update: May 21, 2024 1:38 pm CDT