Donald Leroy Merfeld

On Jan. 17, 1948, Donald married Kathleen Kay Olson of La Crosse. They moved to Chicago, where Donald attended Coyne electrical school. Upon completion of post-secondary education, Donald and Kay returned to La Crosse, building a home and raising five children.

Donald worked as a service technician for Montgomery Ward, then as a lab technician for Trane Co. He continued his education, studying computer technology, which he used professionally and personally. Together, Donald and Kay bought and worked a hobby farm in Stoddard, raising chickens, cows and pigs and tending two large gardens. Donald and Kay instilled a love of learning in their children, always leading by example.

After retiring from Trane Co. in 1987, Donald enjoyed traveling, taking day trips here and there with Kay, and later visiting Alaska, Ireland and the Caribbean Islands.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Kay, in 1993; daughter Diane in 2000; and oldest son Philip in 2003; sisters Marian, Jean, Dorothy and Darlene; and brothers William and Gerald Peter.

He is survived by daughters, Stephanie (Jim) Merfeld-Clapp, Concord, N.H., and Doneca Nikki (Emerson) Merfeld Ruble, Austin, Minn.; son Christopher, Madison; grandchildren, Todd Merfeld, Concord, Mark (Colleen) Merfeld, Holmen, Dana (Sam) Kokales, Arizona, Shawn Merfeld, La Crosse; Adrian (Krystal)?Merfeld, Austin, and Brittney Merfeld, La Crosse; great-grandchildren, Noah and Liam Merfeld, Concord, Dylan and Lydia Merfeld, Holmen, Jayden and Jossalyn Kokales, Arizona, Preston and Parker Merfeld, Arizona, and Logan Donald Merfeld, Austin; sisters Janice (Jim) Jungen, Colorado, Phyllis Schmidt, La Crosse; and brother Raymond, La Crosse.

Donald will be remembered as an exemplary father who balanced fairness and discipline, serving as an impeccable, admirable role model. He is also rated the No. 1 jokester by Noah Merfeld.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 10, at Mary Mother of the Church Parish at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 2006 Weston St., La Crosse. Rev. Douglas Robertson will officiate. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 9th at Schumacher-Kish Funeral & Cremation Service, 200 West Ave. S., La Crosse, and an hour before the service at the church. Interment with military honors will be at the Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.