Donald Seitz

Donald Walter Seitz, 88, passed away at Manor Care September 22, 2016. Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 1, 2016 at Lutheran Church of Peace, Platteville. Rev. Jeff Pedersen will officiate. Chapel military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post 42 and VFW Post 5274. Burial will be at the Belmont Cemetery. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday, at the church. The Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville, is serving the family. Memorials may be made to the Donald W. Seitz Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.

Don was born June 15, 1928 at home on his family's farm in Auburndale, WI. He left home at age 14 to work and attend school in Belmont, WI, an area first settled by his maternal grandparents (Helms). Due to his passion for athletic sports he acquired the nickname “Hoop” at Belmont High School which followed him much of his life. He entered the military in 1950 serving out of Camp McCoy. Following his discharge Don was employed at the Belmont cheese factory. On February 23, 1952, he married Delores Durni. After the births of their three children, they moved to Platteville in 1960 where Don worked for 33 years as superintendent of the UW-Platteville power plant system retiring in 1989.

Don was an avid outdoorsman and a destination for most of his working years was a cabin he built with his young family on Lake Arbutus in Hatfield, WI named Evergreen Acres. He spent decades traveling there on weekends to fish and hunt. After retirement, he and his wife traveled to many locations locally and abroad. Don was a long standing member of the Elks and American Legion. Retirement years allowed time to take up golf which he did with great enthusiasm. He also loved to play euchre with family and friends and last but not least was more than willing to offer free advice to his wife with the extensive landscaping of their home. As the years progressed, Don did what he loved to do most in the world; talk to people! He will be remembered by many for visiting family, friends, and nursing homes, for miles around almost every day giving a much needed lift in many people's lives.

Donald is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, Delores (Durni) of Platteville, WI; son, Donald L. (Gretchen) Seitz of Harris, MN; daughter, Patricia (Eric) Gray of Minneapolis, MN; grandsons, Brian (Robin) Filip of Rosemount, MN and Max Seitz of Pine Springs, MN; granddaughters, Sara (Justin) Wiech of Bloomington, MN; Katja (Dave) Kurian of Madison, WI; and Abbey Seitz of Honolulu, HI; and great grandchildren, Dominic and Finley Filip, and Ava and Evan Wiech. He is also survived by sisters, Verna (Aulney) Brown of Spanaway, WA; and Elaine (Don) Ahlers of Flandreau, SD. and a brother, Harold (Joyce) Seitz of Marshfield, WI; many nieces and nephews. Donald is preceded in death by parents, Leo and Ella Seitz of Auburndale, WI; son, Michael R. Seitz of Chippewa Falls, WI; brothers, Ray (Lorraine) Seitz of Fennimore, WI; Marvin (Lorraine) Seitz of Stratford, WI; Kenneth (Helen) Seitz of Platteville, WI; and sister, Gladys (Arnold) Austin of Mosinee, WI.