Donald O. Koerner
Donald O. Koerner, age 90, of Curtiss, entered his Heavenly Home with Jesus on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 at Zion Lutheran Church in Colby. Rev. James Groleau will officiate. Family and friends are welcome from 9 a.m. until time of service on Friday at the church. Interment will follow at the Abbotsford Public Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the Dorchester American Legion Post #517. The honor of pallbearers will be his six grandsons. Live stream will be available for those unable to attend on the Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home Facebook page or after the service anytime on Facebook or the website. The Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford is entrusted with the arrangements.
Don was born on Oct. 14, 1933, the son of Oscar and Dorothy (Untiedt) Koerner in a small house northeast of Curtiss. He attended Brady Grade School, graduated from Abbotsford High School in 1951 and completed a farm short course at UW Madison. Don was united in marriage to Yvonne Viegut on Sept. 18, 1954 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Dorchester and then took over the family farm in the township of Mayville. They were married for 68 years until Yvonne’s death on April 24, 2022. They were blessed with four children.
Don was active in high school in sports, FFA, math and played the bass in the band. As a freshman he pitched in the state high school baseball tournament and continued his pitching including city teams and for the American Legion. He purchased his grandmother’s
1933-2023
farm at the age of 16. Don earned his State FFA Farmer degree, American FFA farmer degree and also served as a state FFA Vice President.
Don was active in farming at a young age with dairy, swine and beef. He was also a member of the Abbotsford National Guard for nine years. In 1959, Don was elected to the ASCS committee and to his first co-op board and was elected secretary-treasurer, trustee and bookkeeper doing the payroll for 220 farmers and plant employees from his home for 14 years. Other boards he served on included: Land O’ Lakes District, Dorchester Co-op, Stetsonville Transport, Tri State Breeders Guernsey Sire, AMPI Corporate Resolution, Little Black Insurance, Dorchester Park, Farm Service County, Clark County Land Conservation, and various church office positions.
In his spare time, he enjoyed bowling, hunting, fishing, watching the Brewers and Packers and attending all sports events involving his family.
Don is survived by his children, Vicky (Mark) Fischer of Colby, Shelley (Steve) Shaker of LaCrosse, Daniel (Jill) Koerner of Colby and Donald J. (Marie) Koerner of Medford. Family members also include ten grandchildren, Kelly Weiler, Kara Jeske, Kory Koerner, Mitch Shaker, Tyler Shaker, Amanda Spindler, Austin Koerner, Aaron Koerner, Jesse Koerner, and Kendra Robida; 17 great-grandchildren complete the Koerner family tree. He is further survived by a sister, Carol (Dennis) Feind; 12 sisters-in-law and nine brothers-inlaw and many nieces, nephews and friends.
He was predeceased by his wife, his parents; his sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Carl Bloom, brothers- in-law, Lavern, Clarence Jr., Jim Viegut and Norman Lukas; and a grandson, Sam Shaker.
Memorials will be determined at a later date. Family and friends may express condolences online at www.maurinaschilling.com.
Paid Obituary 146584
