CAROL DONOVAN
October 31, 1962 - July 15, 2021
Obituary
Carol Ann Coopman Donovan passed away at home on July 15, 2021, after facing a rare cancer for more than a year. She was born in Neenah on October 31, 1962, the youngest of four children of Benjamin Coopman Sr. and Dorothy Valitchka Coopman. She was a 1980 graduate of Menasha High School, and “Bluejay strong.” By middle school, she had focused on a teaching career, earning a Bachelor degree in Home Economics Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, and two Masters degrees from Marian University. She taught high school and middle school Home Economics, English and Social Studies in seven schools and five districts over 38 years.
Carol was devoted to teaching all students regardless of how they learned, sharing her life experiences to help connect them to their community. She kindly mentored colleagues and future teachers. She taught remotely in 2020-21 due to Covid restrictions, and vowed to make her final year of teaching her best ever. She retired from the Menasha Joint School District in June 2021.
After years of single life, Daniel Donovan discovered that Carol was the one for him, and they were married on December 29, 1990 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Menasha. During 30 years of marriage, they endeavored to get the most out of every precious minute, cherished time with family and friends, and created a lot of special memories along the way. Carol's philosophy of teaching carried over into their personal life: Never let anyone tell you that you can't do something, treat others the way you'd want to be treated, laugh at yourself, get over it, make memories with others, and thank those who have gone before you.
In addition to her husband Dan, Carol is survived by sister-in-law Dianne (Benjamin Jr., dec.) Coopman; sister Kathryn (Donald) Voigt; brother Charles (Laura) Coopman, and brothers-in-law J. Michael (Catherine) Donovan, and Patrick (Samien Sun) Donovan. In addition, she loved their many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and they cherished and admired her in return.
Carol was predeceased by her parents, Benjamin and Dorothy Coopman; brother Benjamin Coopman Jr.; Dan's parents, Dr. John L. Donovan and June Estes, and brother Timothy Daniel Donovan.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Carol will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 620 Division St., Neenah, with Fr. John Becker officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. . Dan and the family wish to acknowledge the empathetic care of Dr. Manish Pant, M.D., Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are suggested for the Neenah Animal Shelter, or a charity of your choice.