Donna M. Modiz, age 101, passed away on Sunday August 23rd, 2026, at Signature Healthcare in Algood, TN.
Donna was born August 1, 1925, in Two Rivers, WI and was the daughter of Anton and Ethel (LaForce) Burgard. She completed grade school in Two Rivers. The family then moved to Sheboygan, WI where she was a graduate of Sheboygan North High School in 1943.
Throughout her life, Donna participated in several choirs in Sheboygan bringing joy to audiences that included nursing homes, assisted living homes, churches and the public. With a record breaking 77-year career as a member of Holy Name Church choir, she would climb the 102 stairs from the practice room to the choir loft for every service she participated in. She was also an active member and officer of two other choir groups in Sheboygan, the Concordia Singing Society and The Golden Chordaliers of Sheboygan, WI where she not only performed locally in Sheboygan County but traveled with the groups for competitions throughout the State of Wisconsin and U.S.
Donna worked as both a volunteer and later an employee at Sheboygan South High school as part of the office support staff for many years and was, along with her husband Frank, a key parent member of the Sheboygan Youth Band in their early formation and travel to perform at parades and festivals across the state.
Donna married Frank V. Modiz on August 24, 1946. They raised three children, Patricia Ann, Michael John, and Debra Lynn, initially in central Sheboygan moving to the south side when they purchased their first home in 1967. The family enjoyed long car trips seeing the country, in addition to the involvement and traveling around the state with two of the kids in the Youth Band. Frank passed away in 1985.
Donna’s involvement with the school system, the Youth Band and her three choirs created an extensive network of friends in the Sheboygan area that shared their love for her in a wide range of actions, providing support and companionship to her throughout the years. At her 90th birthday party, over 100 people, most from the choirs she participated in, provided an emotional version of Happy Birthday in four-part harmony at her party.
For her 100th birthday party, while a resident at Signature Healthcare in Algood, TN, the nursing home staff arranged with the City of Algood to get a Proclamation from the City marking it as Donna Modiz Day and the city Fire Department showed up with a Fire Truck which Donna rode in with the lights and siren on as it went around the nursing home building because she always wanted to “Lead a parade”. She got her wish and had the biggest smile we had seen in some time.
Donna is survived by her daughter Patricia Rowe of Sheboygan and Michael (Sharon) Modiz of Cookeville, TN, her grandchildren; Peter Moody of Milwaukee, Eric Moody of Oshkosh, Mark Rowe of Sheboygan, Amanda (Erik) Aguilar of Littleton Colorado, and Jason (Elizabeth) Modiz of Colorado Springs. She also leaves behind twelve great-grandchildren: Logan Moody, Evan Moody, Amanda Rowe, Odin Rowe, Evelyn Rowe, Nora Aguilar, Elizabeth Aguilar, Pearl Modiz, Jude Modiz, Nikos Clift, Ariahna Modiz and Oliver Modiz. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband Frank, she was preceded in death by her daughter Debra Lynn Modiz-Helm, her parents Anton/Ethel Burgard, in-laws John/Frances/Pauline Modiz, brother and sister-in-law Claude/Joyce Burgard, sister and brother-in-law Beverly/Harley Hahn, and sister and brother-in-law Bernice/Ivan TenPas.
Family and friends may gather at the Reinbold-Novak Funeral Home, 1535 S. 12th Street Sheboygan on Friday, August 28, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until the time the funeral procession leaves for church at 12:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. Friday at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 818 Huron Ave. Sheboygan. Burial will follow in the Greendale Cemetery.
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