Donna Jo Hartwell

She was born on January 23, 1959, in Keene, NH and attended Keene schools. After graduation from high school Donna worked for a few local companies including Yankee Magazine in Dublin, Contour Fine Tooling in Keene and Markem in Keene.

It was while working at Markem’s that Donna met her future husband, Rick Lahue. They were married on April 29, 2006. Sadly, Rick passed away on March 20, 2019.

Donna loved playing softball and was also in a dart league after high school. She even became a certified ceramics instructor! Donna later went on to get her Serve Safe Certification and went to work at the County Jail in Westmoreland and later at her “favorite ever” workplace, CC&D’s in Keene.

Donna was bitten by the “Harley-bug” in the early 90’s when she went to Monadnock Harley and came home with her first (of many) bikes a magenta sportster. This brought her on many adventures including trips to Laconia and Daytona for Bike Week and on a “once in a lifetime” trip out to Sturgis, SD via Amtrak with her good friend Sally.

Donna made many, many friends in the bike world and would host a Memorial Day cookout every year with all her friends. It is in her honor that we will be celebrating her life this Memorial Day at her home in Swanzey.

Donna is survived by many dear friends, especially Roger and Kathy Birch, her mother, Mary Hartwell, brother, Tim Hartwell and sister, Leslie Hartwell, her nephews, Jake Hartwell, Derek Hartwell and Kyle Searles. She was pre-deceased by her dad, Gordie Hartwell, her brother, Roger Hartwell and sister, Diane Searles.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, May 26th at 11:00am in the Mountain View Cemetery, Old Homestead Highway (Route 32) Swanzey, NH, followed by a celebration of life held at Donna’s former home at 34 Park Street in North Swanzey. All are welcome and please bring your favorite Donna story to share, as well as a chair!