Margaret Donovan

Margaret "Marti" Donovan, age 78, passed away peacefully in her home in Madison on October 19, 2022, after heroically fighting breast cancer for over 15 years.

Marti was born Margaret Sue Kring on November 3, 1943, to Donald and Mary Elizabeth Kring on the family farm in Angola, IN. She attended Taylor High School and Western Michigan University. She met the love of her life, Dr. Timothy J. Donovan, while they were both working at Wayne County General Hospital in Inkster, MI. Marti and Tim were married in Michigan on June 26, 1965, and moved to Madison, WI where Tim was beginning his medical career with The Dean Clinic and St. Mary’s Hospital.

Marti devoted her life to her family, friends, and volunteering. She was always helping others and worked hard to improve the lives of those around her. She taught herself braille to transcribe books for the blind, studied interior design, made and sold beautiful hand-knit Christmas stockings with her sister Linda, and co-owned The Valperine Gallery on Monroe Street for over 20 years. She was known among friends and family as a strong, compassionate, easy-going, and fun-loving person who always put others ahead of herself.

Marti loved tennis, bridge, skiing, and golf. Every summer she would return to Angola, IN to spend several weeks with her relatives at their family home on Lake Pleasant. In 1996, Marti and Tim began dividing their time between their homes in Madison, WI and Tucson, AZ.

Marti was preceded in death by her husband, Timothy Donovan; her parents, Donald and Mary Elizabeth Kring; and her brother, Robert Kring. She is survived by her two children, Michael Donovan (Dee), and Kristin Nelson (Mark); three adored grandchildren, Anna Nelson, Emily Nelson, and Noel Donovan; her sister, Linda Kring; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins whom she loved very much. Marti was dearly loved by everyone who knew her, and she will be missed immensely.

A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held for the family at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish on Wednesday, October 26 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Agrace Hospice, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711.

We invite you to share your memories here on Marti's tribute wall.

Cress Center

6021 University Ave. Madison

(608) 238-8406