Donald’s Obituary Donald A. Dewanz, age 86, passed away peacefully Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at the Sleepy Eye Care Center in Sleepy Eye. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, May 25, 2019 at the St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm. Pastor Timothy Smith will officiate.
Burial will follow in the St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in New Ulm. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday, May 24, 2019 at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – NORTH CHAPEL in New Ulm. The visitation will continue from 9-10 a.m. Saturday at the church.
To leave an online condolence for the family, or to sign the guestbook, please visit: www. mvfh.org. Donald is survived by his wife of over 61 years, Opal Dewanz; daughters, Christine Carroll of Mankato, Kay (Dan) Meinzer of New Ulm; sons, Clayton (Christie) Dewanz of New Ulm, Kevin (Donna) Dewanz of New Ulm; seven grandchildren, David (Tena) Dewanz, Christopher (fiancé Ana Lindholm) Dewanz, Bryan (fiancé Emily Rutscher) Dewanz, Aaron Dewanz, Jennifer Meinzer, Danielle (Chad) Hemme, Nicklaus Dewanz; great granddaughter, Peyton Hemme; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, Jim Carroll; sisters, Viola Buysse, Agnes Buysse, Rose Reirson; brothers, Alfred Dewanz, LeRoy “Slivers” Dewanz, Melvin Dewanz; and brother-in-law, Wally Havemeier. Donald A. Dewanz was born August 23, 1932 to Fred and Clementina (Popp) Dewanz in New Ulm. Donald married the love of his life, Opal Havemeier, on December 26, 1957 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm.
Their union was blessed with four children. Donald began his 40-year career at Borden Company, now known as Firmenich, in 1954 and retired in 1994. Donald played clarinet and saxophone for the Jolly Germans and many other local bands.
Donald kept active in his retirement by volunteering for Heartland Express, Meals on Wheels, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Food Shelf. He also enjoyed playing cards, specifically sheephead, cribbage, Kings in the Corner and solitaire. In 2004, he was awarded the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award.
Donald enjoyed traveling with Opal, family, and friends exploring all of the continental United States. To Donald, the three most important things were, family, music (old time and big band) and cards with family, friends and his friends at the Senior Center. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Blessed be his memory. Memorials are preferred to St. Paul’s Building Fund, Allina Hospice or the Food Shelf.
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