Wilson, Donald E (1928-2016)

WILSON, PLETCHER, OLSON, ALSVIG, WEISS, KNOLL, HADAWAY, BROWN, KOLBECK, BROADIE, WEISS, NEHLS, STAHL, KNOLL

Posted By: Colleen J Ossman (email)
Date: 6/3/2016 at 19:37:59

April 12, 2016
The Daily Freeman Journal

Donald Eugene Wilson was born May 16th, 1928, to Raymond & Irene (Pletcher) Wilson in Wright County, Iowa. He attended school in Webster City graduating in 1946. He married Karolyn Olson in 1948, to which four children were born: Diana, Donna, Bruce & Debra. In 1966, Don married Marilyn (Schnell) Alsvig, bringing stepchildren, David and Kathleen into his life. On November 24th, 1993, Don married Kay (Broadie) Weiss in Spirit Lake.

Don spent over 45 years in the laundry and dry cleaning business beginning in Clarion, Iowa and most recently as the owner and operator of Campus Cleaners and Launderers in Spirit Lake, retiring in 2002. Don served on the Clarion volunteer fire department and was a school bus driver for several years. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment was the day he took his last drink on September 3rd, 1983. By the grace of God, he remained sober until the day he passed away on April 9th, 2016. Don was an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous, Kiwanis and served as an Elder at First English Lutheran Church in Spencer, where he came to faith after moving to Spencer in 2002.

Don is survived by his wife, Kay; four children, Diana, Donna, Bruce & Debra; stepchildren, David and Kathleen; sisters, Carol Knoll (Cedar Rapids), Roxann (Bruce) Hadaway of Cherokee Village, Arkansas, and Ann (Bob) Brown of Lincoln, Nebraska; brothers, Gary Kolbeck of Cherokee Village, Arkansas, Dennis Kolbeck (Sandy) of Alleman, Iowa, David (Judy) Kolbeck of Waterloo, Iowa, and Lyle (Dee) Wilson of Escondido, California; father-in-law, Maurice Broadie; brother & sister-in-law, Richard & Peggy Broadie of Cedar Falls; brother & sister-in- law, Barry & Sue Nehls of Mason, Ohio; & grandchildren. Don was preceded in death by his mother, Irene; stepfather, Harry Kolbeck; biological father, Raymond Wilson; brother, James Kolbeck; sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy & Everett Stahl; brother-in-law, Richard Knoll; and mother-in-law, Louise Broadie. Don was survived & preceded by many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews & loyal friends.

A funeral service will be held at 1:30 P.M. Friday, April 15, 2016, at First English Lutheran Church in Spencer with services to be conducted by Pastor Paul Kaldahl. Visitation will be held Thursday, from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at First English Lutheran Church in Spencer. Burial will be at Lakeview Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Don's name to the Iowa Great Lakes Lutheran School, 1311 E. 18th Street, Spencer, Iowa, 51301. The family would like to say a special thank you for the support of friends, the wonderful care by the staff at Longhouse Northshire, Spencer Hospital and Gentiva Hospice all during Don's illness.