Danute Zielinski

Danute “Donna” Zielinski

Donna Zielinski, 89, peacefully passed away on December 15th, 2024, in Bluffton, South Carolina. She was surrounded by her loving family. Donna was born on December 3rd, 1935, in Taurage, Lithuania. Her family lost their home and all their belongings in Lithuania during World War II when Russia and Germany fought to occupy their country.  Traveling through Germany by foot as a young girl with her mother and sisters struggling to find shelter, food & water was very stressful while they were separated from their father who served as a medic in the German army fighting against Russia.  They eventually reunited with their father in Germany, and she immigrated to the United States on July 4th, 1949, with her mother, Sofija (Mikucionis) Ramanauskas and father, Konstantinas Ramanauskas and her older sister, Aldona Ramanauskas and her younger sister, Biruta Ramanauskas. Her family settled in Detroit, Michigan where she graduated from Northwestern High School in 1954. Donna worked as an Executive Assistant in the manufacturing industry and had a job at General Motors and other automotive suppliers over her work career. Shortly after graduating from high school, she met her first husband, Chris “Casey” Krisciunas and they got married in 1955.  After Chris served time in the military for 4 years, they ended up getting divorced and she met her second husband, Norman Joseph Zielinski and they were married in 1963 and had three beautiful children together. They lived a happy life raising their three children, Laura, Brian & Lisa in Farmington, Michigan from 1963 to 1991 and then moved to New Hudson, Michigan until they retired and bought a condo in Milford, Michigan in 1996.  They built a beautiful lake cottage on Sand Lake near Manistee, Michigan in 1986 and enjoyed vacationing many summers there with family and friends.  They also became “snowbirds” and traveled to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina over the winters starting in 1997.  They eventually bought a condo on Hilton Head Island in 1998 and spent many winters there. Sadly, Norman passed away in February of 2001 and Donna ended up rekindling her relationship with her first husband in 2002 and they spent time traveling, visiting with their families, and helping with their grandchildren.  Donna loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, Garrett, Brooke and Haley more than anything.  She enjoyed gardening, mushroom picking, cooking, reading, traveling and gambling in her retirement.  She was always lucky on the slot machines and won more money than she lost!

Donna is survived by her children: Laura (Zielinski) Von Minden, Brian Zielinski & daughter-in-law, Betsy Zielinski, Lisa (Zielinski) Thompson & son-in-law, Joe Thompson and grandchildren: Garrett Von Minden & spouse, Sara Von Minden, Brooke Newton and Haley Newton. She is also survived by her younger sister: Biruta “Ruth” (Ramanauskas) Mendyk and brother-in-law, Lee Mendyk and her sister-in-law: Margaret “Marge” Zielinski.

She will be laid to rest on Monday, December 23, 2024, at Six Oaks Cemetery on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina next to her beloved husband, Norman Joseph Zielinski. Family and friends will be invited to a Celebration of Life Service in 2025 and will be notified when a date is scheduled. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Donna’s honor to Compassus (Hospice) Living Foundation, link is listed below.

Compassus Living Foundation
Web: https://compassuslivingfoundation.org/