DONALD’s Obituary Donald Joe Criley, 82, Sturgeon Lake, went to be with Jesus on January 14th, 2019 at Augustana Care, Moose Lake, MN. Don was born on March 13th, 1936 to Joe and Hazel Criley in Belleville, Illinois. Don was the oldest of three children.
He grew up in Valley Park, MO and graduated from Valley Park High School in 1956. He joined the Air Force in August, 1956 and served for four years. He came home in September, 1960 and married his best friend, Marilyn Beth Dagel from Duluth.
Marilyn and Don met while Don was at the Duluth Air Base. They were married on November 26, 1960 at the Moose Lake Methodist Church on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. They left for St. Charles, MO where Don worked at McDonnell Douglas until 1969 when they moved to Pine City, MN and Don became a Standard Oil Agent.
In the early 1970’s, Don and Marilyn started their own company – Don Criley Heating Co. and continued in that business until Don retired in 1998. In 2001-2002, Don and Marilyn built a new home and were going to retire there. But, plans changed, and they moved to Sturgeon Lake, MN to be close to the Dagel families.
They traveled with a group called SOWERS – Servants on Wheels Ever Ready and volunteered at Christian Camps in Minnesota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Missouri, and even went on two trips to Solid Rock Bible Camp in Soldotna, Alaska. Don and Marilyn were on the Planning Board for the Sonshine Closet in Moose Lake. Don was a volunteer at Sonshine Furniture and at the Sonshine Pantry.
After Don and Marilyn’s daughter, Kathi Criley, passed away, Jerry and Ethel Gill bought her home and settled in right behind them. Don, being retired, would watch while Jerry built a raised garden bed, and most recently, watched while Jerry and a friend helped organize Don’s tools in the garage. Don was good at watching.
Don developed type 2 diabetes and was on peritoneal dialysis, which was done at home. On December 28th, Don was admitted to Essentia in Duluth after a slight stroke, and then had multiple additional strokes while in the hospital. He was taken off of dialysis and transferred to Augustana Care, where he passed away.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Hazel Criley; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Floyd and Fern Dagel; daughter, Kathi Lynn Criley; and brother, James “Jim” Criley. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Marilyn; son, Marc (Kathy) of New Market, Alabama; sister, Peggy Bernhardt of Salem, MO; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Larry (Renee’) Dagel, David “Willie” (Virginia) Dagel, Daniel “Danny” (Karen) Dagel, Barbara (Dagel) Patten; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. A funeral service with military honors will be held at 11:00am on Friday, January 18th, 2019 at Barnum Community Church.
Visitation will occur from 9:00am until the time of funeral. Pastor Kendall Carlson and Pastor Jerry Gill will officiate. Burial will be in Blomskog Cemetery, Sturgeon Lake.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
