Donald "Don" Buhl
Donald “Don” K. Buhl, 72, of Waukon died Monday, May 19, 2025, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Memorial services were held Saturday, May 24 at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Rev. Cathy Jurgens officiating. Burial will be at a later date in St. Luke’s Catholic Cemetery, Sherburn, MN.
Donald Keith Buhl was born March 2, 1953, to Jerome and Violet (Cebulla) in Estherville. He attended school in Dunnell and Sherburn, MN, graduating with the class of 1971. He then attended Mankato Technical School. Don started his career at Interstate Power Company in their coal fired plant as an assistant operator and then an operator.
June 19, 1976, he was united in marriage to Lynn Marie Jensen at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Sherburn, MN. After marriage, they lived in Sherburn on an acreage, where they had their three children and then moved into town. They moved to Waukon in July of 1998, and Don started a job as an instrument and controls technician at the Alliant Energy coal fired plant. After 42 years, he retired in 2016. He really loved his job and enjoyed going to work.
He greatly enjoyed working with wood, fishing, anything computer related, his hot tubs, helping his kids, playing with his grandchildren, whom he really cherished, and wintering in Florida.
Don is survived by his wife of 49 years, Lynn Buhl of Waukon; his sons, Nicholas (Dawn) Buhl of Frederick, MD, and Jonathan (Cathy) Buhl of Waukon; a daughter, Elizabeth (Barry) Rickard; seven grandchildren: Lily Buhl, Miles Buhl, Sophia Rickard, Emma Rickard, Oliver Rickard, Connor Buhl, and Cameron Buhl; his siblings: Kathy (Kevin) Gregg of Courtland, MN, Sue Burmeister of Sherburn, MN, Carol (Bryan) Schafer of Boyceville, WI, Ann (Ron) Kuschel of Becker, MN, and Tom (Deb) Buhl of Jamestown, ND; his sister-in-law, Cathy Holz of Rochester, MN; his brother-in-law, Scott (Janette) Jensen of Sherburn, MN; plus many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and some very special friends he made in his lifetime.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jerry and Violet; his brother, Roger Buhl; his brother-in-law, Joel Burmeister; his father- and mother-in-law, Hap and Mae Jensen; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Honorary bearers were Don’s grandchildren. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
