Donald K. Mayer

Donald K. Mayer, 83, of Balsam Lake, Wisconsin passed away on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at the St. Croix Regional Medical Center.  Don was born on July 24, 1933 the son of Herman and Gertrude (Gorst) Mayer in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Don graduated from Fairchild High School in 1951, he served in the United Army from 1954-1956.  He graduated from the University Of River Falls in 1963 summa cum laude with a degree in Biology and Conservation and earned a Teaching Degree.  Following graduation he worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Don married Brenda Freeman on August 10, 1968 in Ladysmith, Wisconsin.  The couple then made their home in Balsam Lake in 1969 where they raised their children.   Don retired in 1997.  He enjoyed substitute teaching at the Unity School until 2004 when Brenda retired.  He was a member of the American Tree Farm Association, the Balsam Lake American Legion and a proud member of Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Balsam Lake.  He enjoyed fishing, deer hunting, gardening, reading, military history and collecting gun shell casings.

Don leaves to celebrate his memory, wife Brenda Mayer, Balsam Lake, daughter, Monica and her husband Shawn Kelly, Gilbert, AZ, son, Kurt Mayer, Balsam Lake, WI; brother, Gerald and his wife Dolores Mayer, Hebron, IN; sister, Carol and her husband Gary Duffenbach, Eau Claire, WI; nieces, nephews, cousins and other loving family and friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents Herman and Gertrude and his sister Rosemary Pomasl.

A Memorial Mass will be held at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Balsam Lake on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at 11:00 A.M.  Don’s family will greet visitors at the Kolstad Family Funeral Home in Centuria on Wednesday, from 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. and again at the church from 10:00 A.M. until the service.

Don will then be laid to rest at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery near Centuria with full military honors.  The family invites their guests to join them for lunch and fellowship at the church following the cemetery service.

Kolstad Family Funeral Home of Centuria has been entrusted with arrangements.