Branstiter, Donald Ray, 1938-1993

BRANSTITER, CAIN, KOLBO

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/14/2010 at 20:00:58

DONALD R. BRANSTITER

Donald Ray Branstiter, 54, of Greenwood, died June 16 in St. Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield. Funeral services were held June 19 with the Rev. David Sommerfeld officiating. Burial was in the Greenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers included Ray Djubenski, Kenny Pfiffer, Duane Noeldner, George Klahn, Jim Antrim, and Greg Branstiter.

Donald Ray Branstiter was born December 12, 1938, in Niobrara, NE and received his education in Knox County, NE. He moved to Union County, South Dakota, in March of 1950 with his parents to a farm near the Chatsworth area and attended country school there.

On May 31, 1958, he married Marilyn Cain of Hawarden and they moved to Greenwood in 1966 where he and his brother, Bob, formed Branstiter Bros. Inc. His wife, Marilyn, died on January 17, 1979. He married Sue Kolbo in February of 1988. He built the "Old Street of Greenwood" Museum in Greenwood which opened to the public three years ago.

He is survived by his wife, Sue; mother, Zelma; two sons, Scott and Marty, both of Atlanta; two daughters, Pam Montemayer, Sheboygan, and Connie Sivertson, Cedarburg; two stepdaughters, Shannon and Jessica; three grandchildren; three brothers, Bob, Abbotsford, Duane, Glidden; Harold, Rockford, IL; and one sister, Marilyn Rastall, Holmen.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marilyn, and his father, Lee.

Long-time friend Dick Sorenson wrote a memorial to Don Branstiter and it is published here in its entirety:

Don Branstiter was not a native of Greenwood, yet he fully embraced this community and its heritage and his fellow citizens. Don made so many contributions to the Greenwood community that it would be almost impossible to even name them all.

Most of all, Don was Greenwood's historian. Without his efforts much of Greenwood's history might never have been preserved. He republished "Greenwood, Wisconsin: Hub of Clark County." Through his enormous efforts his masterpiece museums are truly among Greenwood's greatest treasures.

He gave generously of his labor and talents and of his own financial resources to the celebration of Greenwood's centennial. Whatever the task, whenever the time, the members of the Greenwood Centennial Committee could always count on Don to help and could rely upon his wise guidance. All this he did with a conscientious concern for people, with a sensitivity to their needs, and with compassionate caring.

The rest of the world may not know Don, but for those of us who live or have lived in Greenwood, and were involved with Don in community service, a most appropriate and most deserved tribute would be to proclaim: "Greenwoods, Wisconsin, a great place to live because Don Branstiter chose our community to be his hometown." His generosity, sincerity, dedication, integrity, and faith in Christ enriched us all.

I appeal to all the citizens of Greenwood to work diligently to preserve the Don Branister museums not only to preserve this superb tribute to the communities history, but also to be a lasting memorial to its founder and builder, Don Barnstiter[sic].

Mourning his death, yet thankful to God for the privilege of being a co-worker in community activities with Don.

Source: Hawarden Independent, July 8, 1993.