The funeral service for Donald “Don” P. Golde of Albert Lea will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Zion Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. Joel Vano will officiate. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service and one hour before service at the church. Interment will be in the Graceland Cemetery.
Don died on Monday, May 4, 2009, at Albert Lea Medical Center. He was 82 years old.
Don was born in North Tonawanda, N.Y., on July 28, 1926, the son of Herman S. and Eugienia (Hiden) Golde Jr. He graduated from Wilson High School, Wilson, N.Y. In 1945 he enlisted in the U.S. Army-Air Force. He was married to Crystal Marie Geartz. He joined the Wilson Meat Co. in the 1950’s in Buffalo, N.Y. transferred to Detroit, Mich., and then to Albert Lea in 1956. In 1961 was transferred to Kansas City, Mo., and then moved back to Albert Lea in 1962 and lived there until the present time. He was married to Nancy Ann Johnson on Dec. 28, 1990. He retired from Wilson’s in 1993 and after that he worked part time at Leutholds. He enjoyed playing fast-pitch softball and became a member of the Freeborn County Softball Hall of Fame in May of 1995. He also enjoyed playing golf. He actively participated over the years in Jaycees, Junior Achievement, Kiwanis and extremely active in Toastmasters. Don was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, holding numerous offices and taught Sunday School for over 30 years.
Don was a good-natured, fun-loving, Christian man who enjoyed and loved the time he could spend with his family.
Don is survived by his wife, Nancy Golde of Albert Lea; daughter, Roxanne McKay and her husband, Peter; granddaughters: Jenna McKay and her husband Russell Johnson and Whitney McKay; great granddaughters: Mia and Ellie Johnson; step daughters: Terri (Brett) Hammer, LeeAnn (Steve) O’Sell, Penny (Blane) Hammer; step grandchildren: Tyler and Shelby Hammer, Nicole, Jacob and Mitchell O’Sell, Mason and Brock Hammer, and nieces and nephews.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Eugienia Golde; brother, Douglas; sister, Joanne Taheri; and first wife, Crystal Golde.