Donna Marie Brillowski

Donna Marie Brillowski was taken home to her lord and savior, Jesus Christ, on angels’ wings, the morning of December 20, 2020.

Donna was born November 13, 1952, in Stevens Point, to the late Julius and Regina (Pliska) Marquard. She attended local elementary school, junior high, and high school, where she met the love of her life, Dennis Brillowski.

They were married on August 29, 1970, at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Mill Creek, and recently celebrated 50 wonderful years of marriage, surrounded by their loved ones and Elvis.

She worked for SNE, Portesi, Herrschners, and most recently the Dollar Tree, where she loved to organize and talk with customers. She made the best fish boil at Club 10 and loved her time as a server at Sadie & Jerry’s.

Donna’s boys, Deane and Dustin, meant the world to her, she especially enjoyed watching them both race, carrying on the family tradition at the race track….with her beer purse. Donna’s greatest joys were her grandkids, Dallas, Rylie, Karlie, Aubrianna, and Cale. She bragged about how proud she was of them any chance she would get. She loved to watch them on their adventures, and always had the best activities for them. Easter Bingo, the Weasel Bag, and Scavenger Hunts were some of their favorites. Donna loved to take them shopping, play cards (Back Alley, peanuts, and 31), and always tried to attend their ice shows, gymnastics meets, dance recitals, softball, T-ball, or football games.

Donna had a soft spot in her heart for dogs, most recently, her beloved rescue dog, Muffin, and gentle giant Goldendoodle, Cash. She loved to spoil her grand-dogs, Lacey, Khloe, Batman, Rudy, Milo, and Dukie. She was known for her five Yorkie pups, Donna’s Piranhas.

She wore her purple-flowered bikini to win over the hearts of the fans at Golden Sands Speedway and become track queen in 1976. Donna loved competition, playing darts, bowling, and milk bottle. She traveled the country in many National Bowling Tournaments with her team, to places such as Vegas, New York, Denver, California, and Florida.

Every Sunday started with church, a drink at DeWendys, and Sunday Funday with her boys and their families, watching the Packers or playing cards or yard games. The door to the Leopard Lounge was always open. She welcomed everyone, whether they stayed 15 minutes or for a late-night of fun. You could always be sure there would be oldies on the jukebox, and a cold beer or glass of wine waiting for you.

She leaves behind her loving husband Dennis; sons Deane (Nicky) and Dustin (Kami), grandchildren Dallas, Rylie, Karlie, Aubrianna, and Cale; sisters Barbara Groshek, Marge Gaetz, Sandy (Randy) Kuklinski, Kathy (Fred) Zblewski; brothers Richard (Linda) Marquard, Kenny (Peggy Hendrick) Marquard; mother-in-law Germaine Brillowski; brothers-in-law Clyde (Carol) Brillowski, Wayne (Ann) Brillowski, Mark (Jean) Brillowski, LeRoy (Shelley) Brillowski; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; father-in-law Adolph Brillowski; brothers-in-law Clifton Brillowski, Glenn Groshek, and David Gaetz; sister-in-law Marsha Marquard; special cousins Shirley Wanta, Linda Hertel, Jerry Gagas; and granddaughter, Angelica.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Portage County Humane Society in her name would be appreciated as her love for dogs and animals was never-ending.

A Private Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at St. Peter’s Church in Stevens Point, with Fr. Arul Joseph Visuvasam officiating.

Entombment will follow in the Guardian Angel Cemetery.

The Funeral Mass will be live streaming through the parish Facebook page. Due to space restrictions from COVID-19, attendees for the funeral mass are limited to immediate family only. All current social safety practices will be strictly enforced: including the wearing of face coverings, social distancing, and state-mandated capacity restrictions.

The Pisarski Funeral Home of Stevens Point is honored to be serving the family. A Celebration of Life for Donna will be held at a later date.

Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.pisarskifuneralhome.com.