| Birth: | May 26, 1925
Whitehall
Trempealeau County
Wisconsin, USA | | Death: | Aug. 28, 2009
Pigeon Falls
Trempealeau County
Wisconsin, USA | 
Donald, age 83, of Pigeon Falls passed away on Friday at Pigeon Falls Health Care Center, surrounded by his family.
He was born the son of Melvin & Margaret Ackley at Whitehall hospital. He grew up on the family farm and attended the Sunshine School in Tuff Coulee. He graduated from Whitehall High School in 1942. A highlight of his high school years was being a delegate to Badger Boys State. He worked on his dad's farm and hauled milk to Pigeon Falls Creamery for Pearl Olson, whose business he purchased March 1, 1950. He married Irene Bautch Sept. 16, 1952, at St. John's Catholic Church in Whitehall. Together they raised five children. He purchased the first bulk milk truck for Pigeon Falls Creamery. He sold Kickapoo fertilizer, hauled bulk feed to local poultry growers, and hauled cattle to Equity and Midwest livestock markets. In the 1960s, he and friends Dean Helstad and Ken Kopp established the Pinederosa, a successful Holstein steer operation. Donald dedicated his life to community service. He was a trustee on the Pigeon Falls Village Board for 20 years. During that time he had a hand in the building of the original village water system, a new waste water treatment facility, the building of a new community center/fire station and the establishment of Pigeon Falls Health Care Center. He was elected to the Trempealeau County Board of Supervisors, selected to the Trempealeau County Health Care Center Board of Trustees and served on the board of directors for Pigeon Falls State Bank. He was a lifelong member of Pigeon Falls Evangelical Lutheran Church. During his life he wore many hats, as Boy Scout master, 4-H leader, fire chief for 26 years and charter member of the Pigeon Falls Lions Club in 1960. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Irene; five children and four grandchildren, who were the joy of his life, Jan (Michael) Malecha of Bloomington, MN, the first girl in the Ackley family in 60 years, and their children, Anne Marie and Hilary, Fred of Pigeon Falls, WI, John, currently working abroad, Jean (David) Kriesel of Franklin, WI, and their children, Kirsten and Nick, and Kris (friend Tom Randall) of Prior Lake, MN.; one brother, Alfred of Hopkins, MN, and his faithful dog, Charlie.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Margaret Ackley; and two brothers, David and James.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday at Pigeon Falls Evangelical Lutheran Church, with burial at the church cemetery.
| | | Burial:
Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
Pigeon Falls
Trempealeau County
Wisconsin, USA |
Created by: Kathy Medick
Record added: Aug 29, 2009
Find A Grave Memorial# 41301794 |
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