Donna E. Baker

Donna E. Baker

April 17, 1936 – October 14, 2026

Donna E. Baker, 90, of Elkhorn, died Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at Golden Years in Lake Geneva after a short illness. She enjoyed many visits from family and friends in her final weeks.

Donna was born April 17, 1936, in Elkhorn, the daughter of the late Alvin M. Schulz and Florence Schulz Taylor. She married David A. “Dave” Baker on December 22, 1956, at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elkhorn.

Donna attended Racine County Teachers College and taught in Elkhorn, Williams Bay, Fontana and Brighton from 1956 to 1979. She earned her bachelor’s degree from UW–Whitewater in 1966 and was proud to later see her daughter, son-in-law, son, daughter-in-law and grandson graduate from UW–Whitewater as well. In 1979 she became a licensed real estate broker, a career she continued until retiring in 2000.

In retirement, Donna loved playing cards (and winning any game), spending time with lifelong and new friends, and keeping in touch with family. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a source of great pride and joy.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 68 years, Dave, in December 2024; and her daughter, Kim (Baker) Calliari, whose death in 1990 was a tremendous loss.

She is survived by her son, Mark (Donna) Baker of Spring Green; son-in-law Patrick (JoAnn) Calliari of Wind Lake; four grandchildren, Katy Baker, Annie Baker, Ryan Calliari and Jenna (Erik) Nowicki; four great-grandchildren, Baker and Dilynn Calliari, Emery and Wren Nowicki; a sister, Jean (Roger) Klemp of Delavan; a sister-in-law, Jean (Harold) Kaeding of Waterford; a brother-in-law, Paul Baker of Elkhorn; a sister-in-law, Mary Baker of Elkhorn; and many nieces, nephews and friends, old and new.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at Haase-Lockwood Funeral Home and Crematory, 730 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn. Additional visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, October 22, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 104 S. Broad St., Elkhorn. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m., with Pastor Tom DeGroot officiating, and a luncheon at the church will follow the service. Interment will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lake Geneva.

Memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 104 S. Broad St., Elkhorn, WI 53121, or to Aurora at Home Hospice Care, 116 N. Dodge St., Burlington, WI 53105.

The family is grateful to the staff of Golden Years in Walworth, St. John’s Lutheran Church and Aurora at Home Hospice Care for their care and support, with a special thank-you to Al and Wendy Zimmerman and to Donna’s niece, Kathy Bahr.

Online condolences may be shared at www.haaselockwoodfhs.com. Haase-Lockwood Funeral Home and Crematory of Elkhorn is serving the family.