Donald W. Mekelburg, 86, of Watertown, died June 13, 2012 at Marquardt Memorial Manor.
Donald William Mekelburg was born on June 25, 1925, in Postville, Iowa, son of Ralph O. and Ester (Bauman) Mekelburg.
He was a member of the 101st Paratroopers during World War II. His last tour of duty was part of the honor guard at General Eisenhower's headquarters in Germany.
Upon returning he finished high school at Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, then went on to college at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
In 1953, Don married Betty (Schwenkner) Wolberg, Betty died in 1979. On October 18, 1980, Don married Dorothy Desens (her husband also died in 1979).
Don later worked as a quality assurance engineer for 38 years including at the Carnation Can Company in Oconomowoc. He was a former president of congregation at St. Matthew's Church in Oconomowoc and member of St. Luke's Church in Watertown.
Survivors include his wife Dorothy; three sons, Tom (Nancy Schmaling) Mekelburg of Houston, Texas, Mike of Ajo, Ariz., and Robert of Brookfield; a stepson Don Desens
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of Oconomowoc; a stepdaughter Debra DiBella of Waukesha;
four grandchildren, Emily Mekelburg of Houston, Texas, David and Bethany Brown of Oconomowoc and Michelle Bohn of Oconomowoc; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Roy (Marie) Mekelburg of Watertown; three sisters, Dorothy (Art) Nickels of Lake Mills, Rosa (Ervin) Bankert of Watertown and Ruth Hinton of Slidell, La,; a sister-in-law, Fae Ann Mekelburg of Watertown.
Don is preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Betty; and two brothers, Jim and Ralph Mekelburg.
Services for Don will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Watertown. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
Memorials may be sent to St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 301 Clark St., Watertown, WI 53094 or Marquardt Foundation, 1020 Hill St. Watertown, WI 53098
The Hafemeister Funeral Home of Watertown is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.hafemeisterfh.com.
Hafemeister Funeral Home, 611 E. Main St., Watertown, WI.
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Grave marker for Donald Mekelburg in Glenview Memorial
Gardens, Ionia (Jefferson county), Wisconsin.
 Donald
was born on 25 June 1925 in Wayne (Clayton county), Iowa.
He was the first child born to Ralph and Esther
Mekelburg.
Donald registered for the draft in Beaver Dam,
Wisconsin on 26June 1943.
On 16 October 1945 Pfc Mekelburg was transferred from
the 101st Airborne Division to Hq 2nd, 508th PIR.
He was discharged on 23 February 1946. |
