Donna Strusinski

Loving Wife, Mother, Attorney, Community Activist



Passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on October 19, 2005, at the age of 60, after a courageous battle with cancer. Donna was born and raised in Buffalo Center, Iowa. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Mankato State College in 1972, with BA Degrees in English and Speech. From 1972-1977, she taught 8th grade English at Apple Valley Middle School. In 1977, Donna entered William Mitchell College of Law wher she became the first recipient of the Chief Justice Warren Burger Scholarship Award. She earned her Juris Doctorate and graduated Cum Laude in 1981. She was admitted to practice in 1981 and joined the law firm of Bell, Arcand and Florin. In 1985, Donna founded the St. Paul Law Firm of Strusinski & Associates, P.A. The firm became Strusinski, Libby & Associates in 2004. During her life, Donna was very active in many organizations and contributed much of her time to improving the quality of life for residents and businesses in the Rice Street (North End) area of St. Paul. Donna served in various capacities including President on the North End Area Revitalization and Sparc Board of Directors from 1990 to 2004. She was an active member and Past President of the North End Business Association. In 1999, Donna was appointed to the City of St. Paul Sales Tax Revitalization (STAR) Board by Mayor Norm Coleman and reappointed by Mayor Randy Kelly where she continued to serve until May of 2005. From 1995 to 2001, Donna was also an active Board member of Reentry Services, Inc., a non profit Board providing halfway houses and home monitoring for wards of the federal, state and county judicial system. Donna's membership in professional organizations includes the Minnesota Women Lawyers, the Ramsey County Bar Association, the Minnesota State Bar Association and the Bar of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. In 1999, Donna and her husband, Bill bought Hinckley Chevrolet in Hinckley, MN where she was Corporate Counsel and very active in the management of the dealership. Donna was an active car enthusiast and member of the Minnesota Street Rod Association. She also was an active environmentalist and member of the Pokegama Lake Association.



Donna was preceded in death by her grandparents and her parents, Louis and Annabelle Sapp. Donna is survived by her husband, William G. Strusinski, her son, William L. Strusinski, her daughter, DoniJo (Scott) McBeath; grandchildren, Cresswell, Tyler and Drew, Her brother, Larry (Glenda) Sapp; her sister, Betty (Chip) Dailey and many nieces, nephews and friends.



A Celebration of Donna?s Life will be held on Wednesday, November 2, 2005 from 5-9 p.m. with a brief service at 7 p.m. at the COMO PARK CONSERVATORY, 1225 Estabrook Drive, Saint Paul. No flowers please. Memorials preferred to Twin Cities Public Television, 172 East 4th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55101.



Bradshaw

1078 Rice Street

St. Paul, MN 55117

651-489-1349