Donald Sherman
Donald P. Sherman, 69, of Waukon died Sunday, July 22, 2018 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 26 at 11 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, with Pastor Samantha Houser officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, July 25 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. In lieu of flowers or mementos, memorials may be made in Don’s honor to the charity of your choice.
Donald Paul Sherman was born May 15, 1949 in Waukon, the son of Paul Henry and LaGertha Eleanor (Bakkum) Sherman. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, where he remained a lifelong member serving as treasurer for many years as well as teaching Sunday School. Don attended rural elementary school in Ludlow Township and graduated from Waukon High School in 1967. He spent a year at NIACC in Mason City before transferring to UNI in Cedar Falls, where he received a BA degree in Biology.
July 24, 1976 Don married Donelle Susan Kruger at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon. For six years he was a member of the Army National Guard in Prairie du Chien, WI. Don started his working career as a farmer, operating a dairy and raising crops, beef cattle, hogs and sheep. He also sold seed corn and spent some time working at the Luana Coop as a certified commercial corn and soybean spray applicator.
After receiving some additional medical training he worked as a CNA at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI and Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. From 1995 until 2000 he lived in Decorah and worked as an EMT and ambulance driver along with doing maintenance work at Winneshiek Medical Center. During the same time, he attended NICC in Calmar, where he received his associate in applied science degree and became a certified electrician. After finishing his training, Don began working as an electrician at the 3M plant in Prairie du Chien, WI. His last electrical work was with Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation and running his own personal business.
Don enjoyed fishing, hunting ginseng and reading in his spare time. He was a pretty good pie baker and often took orders for his treats. He enjoyed following the financial and farm markets as well as collecting coins and going to coin auctions. He and Donelle also enjoyed dancing and traveling, which they did mostly out west. Perhaps Don’s favorite thing to do was to get in his old pickup, crank the radio up, stick his elbow out the window and drive through the beautiful area countryside.
Survivors include his wife, Donelle, of Waukon; his siblings: Sue Sherman of Greenfield, WI, Bonnie (Bill) Papke of Onalaska, WI, Randy (Cheryl) Sherman of Marshfield, WI and Mark (JoAnn) Sherman of Waukon; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives. He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Janice Olsen.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
