The world has lost a tender soul and heaven has gained one.
Donald “Donny” Jerome Fostner passed away suddenly Thursday, April 2, 2020 in New York from suspected COVID-19. Born July 14, 1985, in his short 34 years, Donny positively impacted everyone he met.
Donny will be remembered as a kind-hearted, genuine, witty and gracious person who could put a smile on anyone’s face. He was someone we could count on to listen, make us laugh, forget our worries, and even have an impromptu dance party with. His family and friends describe him best as a beautiful soul.
Donny will be missed everyday by his parents, Rod and Jenny (Minturn), sister Megan (Tommy) Woboril, brother Jake, his grandmother Patsy Minturn, loving partner Julie Wilhelm, his bulldog Sophie, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many, many friends.
Donny was greeted in Heaven with such joy by his grandparents Jerome and Margorie Fostner and Donald Minturn, his uncle Steven Fostner, and his aunt Dianne Fostner Sell.
Donny attended Brookfield East High School. While there he was a soccer athlete, teammate, and friend to many. After graduating high school in 2003 he attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison, earning a double major in Nuclear Engineering and Physics, where he made many lifelong friends. He spent as much time as possible with them as he could, whether it be having pitchers at The Terrace, boots at Essen Haus, or sweating profusely from curry at Vientiane Palace. Throughout his life he ran in ultramarathons, loved hiking, biking, and being in nature.
Donny worked for multiple companies on the Chicago Board of Trade before accepting a job in New York as an energy trader with DV Trading. Donny enjoyed life in big cities. He loved finding new restaurants, bakeries, and meeting friends for a coffee or a drink to catch up.
Due to the current stay-at-home orders a private intimate family funeral will be held (Live-streamed) Saturday at 10:00 AM at Brookfield Lutheran Church with Pastor Robert Mrosko officiating, private burial following. The family has been lifted up by prayers and messages about the love others had for Donny. Therefore, a Celebration of Life will be planned on a future date when all those who loved and cherished Donny can come together to share stories, love, hugs and say their goodbyes.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ice Age Trail Alliance, Brookfield Lutheran Church, or plant a tree in the memory of this wonderful dear young man.