Donald Schwartzhoff
Donald E. Schwartzhoff, 83, of Waukon, formerly of Dorchester, died Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. A private family funeral service was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dorchester with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial with military honors was at the church cemetery Tuesday, August 4. Condolences may be sent to Chris Schwartzhoff at 521 South State Street, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821.
Donald Emmett Schwartzhoff was born March 30, 1937 to Emmett and Lillian (Doubek) Schwartzhoff. He attended Washington Country School through the eighth grade. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956 and was stationed in Germany for two years.
In 1954, Don was introduced to the love of his life, Shirley Ann Link, by his uncle and aunt, Tom and Mary Ann Doubek. Don and Shirley were married August 9, 1958 in Caledonia, MN, and to this union eight children were born (not all at once!).
Don and Shirley farmed in Eitzen, MN, and then Dorchester on the farm next to his parents. In 1973, Don started carpentry work with Mabel Lumber Co. He moved the family to Dorchester and then purchased and operated the Dorchester Store. Don also worked for Meiners Lumber Co. before starting his own business, Schwartzhoff Construction, with his sons. Many of his employees through the years were nephews, grandsons and friends.
After Shirley’s passing in 2004, Don met and married Vee Soller in 2007. Vee later died in 2012.
Don was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Dorchester and St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. He enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs, Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Vikings. He loved touring the countryside, showing family and friends the many buildings he had built over the years, and was always ready to visit over a cold beer or glass of wine. He lived for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and for many years went to lunch once a week with his siblings. Don was a man of great faith. He relished his conversations with Msgr. Ed, Father Joe and Father Mark, and loved going to church, always arriving very early.
Survivors include his children: JoAnn (Les) Winters and their children, Travis, Amanda (Lloyd and son Henry), Stacy (Seth) and Thomas (Samantha); Steve (Angie) Schwartzhoff and their children, Krystal (Nick and son Kaleb) and Shane; Christine Schwartzhoff (Mark Hoppenjan) and her children, Reggie (Heather), Ross (Malorie and children Zoe and Boston) and Kelsey (Frank and sons Bo and Eli); Mark (Sally) Schwartzhoff and their children, Monica (Andrew), Rodney (Mary) and Emmett; Pat (Kristine) Schwartzhoff and their children, Brandon, Kayla (Brody and children Charlee and Baby Baxter), Tony (Bekah and sons Connor and Logan), Dillion (Emily and children Jace, Olivia and Kasen) and Kortney; Larry (Katie) Schwartzhoff and their children, Ben (Rachel), Mati (Matt) and Jenna (Jacob); Dana (Jason) Fish and their children, Dakota, Levi and Daphne; and Nicole (Ben) Read and their daughters, Sophia and Isabelle; his former son-in-law, Jerry Baxter; his former daughter-in-law, Bonnie Schwartzhoff; his siblings: Mary Ward, Carol (Bill) Hancock, Judy (Dennis) Byrnes, Mavis Wishcop, Karen (Dave) Gross and Kathy Schwartzhoff; his in-laws: Bess Link, Deloris Link, Wilma Nelson, Janet (Bill) O’Hare, Jim (Karen) McCormick, Pat Delaney and Gary Ward; and special friends, Bobbie Becker and family and Mike and Linda Mettille and family.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Shirley, in 2004 and second wife, Vee, in 2012; his grandson, Jason Newman; a great-grandchild, Champ Baxter; his siblings: Theresa McCormick, Dorie Bulman, Aileen Delaney, Ramona Ward and Jim Schwartzhoff; and his in-laws: Duane Anderson, Kenny Hammell, Donald Ward, Joann Schwartzhoff, Luverne Link, Betty Winjum, Bob Link, Mary Link, Donald Nelson, Shirley Link and Virgil Link.
Honorary casketbearers were Don’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Marlin Cooper, and the staffs at Northgate and Southcrest. Casketbearers were Travis and Amanda Winters, Krystal Sultze, Reggie Baxter, Rodney Schwartzhoff, Brandon Holland, Mati Dickerson, Dakota Fish and Sophia Read.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
