Donald Nicholas Lochner
Well Kiss ole Rose/Look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls! Donald Nicholas Lochner, 96, of Prairie du Chien, died on Nov. 1, at Great River Care Center, McGregor, Iowa.
Born on Dec. 9, 1920, in Roxbury. The second son of Louis and Emma (Bay) Lochner. The family moved to Prairie du Chien where he attended St. Gabriel’s school and Campion Jesuit High School, class of ‘39. He worked at the Ford garage until drafted in 1943.
Serving in Army Air Corps as gunner and engine mechanic on B-24s. Discharged in 1946, returned to Prairie du Chien and worked for Taylor Candy Company. Don and the love of his life Norma Saunders were joined in holy matrimony on Dec. 2, 1944. He began working for Iowa Oil Company as fuel distributer and owner of a service station on Beaumont Road. He retired in 1982. Then worked as a salesman for Lochner Motors.
Donnie enjoyed playing golf and tennis, bowling, pontooning, and fishing. He was an excellent euchre player. He liked to garden and creating compost beds in the backyard. He was an excellent mechanic who could make almost every car, including the Mini Winnie, Chev, function and, at times, could make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. Although he complained about their performance, he was an avid Packer and Brewer fan. He was an active member of St. John’s Church and served on the parish council. He also served as president of the Prairie du Chien School Board.
He instilled in his children the value of hard work, perseverance, and commitment. He had a wickedly sarcastic sense of humor.
Survivors include his wife Norma; his children Jennifer (Charles) Loeper, Paul, Christine (Denny) Holmes, Amelia (Larry) Dittman, Louis (Mary), Thomas (Joyce), Lenoir, Elizabeth (Dean) Abel, Rene (Shane) Roth, John, Joseph (Debbie); a daughter-in-law Catherine Lochner; a sister-in-law Vickie; 30 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews Margaret, Mollie, Bill, John, Dan, Lori, and Patty.
Don was preceded in death by his son D. Mark; his parents Louis and Emma; his brothers Harry and Raymond; his sister-in-law Audrey; and nephew Michael Lochner.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff of Great River Care Center and St. Croix Hospice for the compassionate care shown to Don in his final months. “A man is a success who has lived well, laughed often, loved much.”
A Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 11 a.m., at St. John’s Church of the Holy Family Parish with burial in the Calvary Cemetery both in Prairie du Chien. Military honors will be accorded by the Prairie du Chien Honor Guard. Friends may call at the church on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until the time of services. The Garrity Funeral Home of Prairie du Chien is assisting the family.
