Donald Fredrich Zabel, 91, of Wells died Monday, Jan. 18, 2016, at Parkview Care Center in Wells. A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wells. The Rev. Mary Iverson officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Military honors will be accorded by the Wells color guard. Interment will be Rosehill Cemetery in Wells. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is handling the arrangements. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.brussheitner.com.

Donald Fredrich was born April 26, 1924, in rural Minnesota Lake, the son of Herbert and Freida (Besser) Zabel. Donald farmed before and after his honorable discharge from the United States Army Airforce. He was united in marriage to Evelyn Giese on Oct. 26, 1946, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wells, and to this union one son, Dennis, was born. Evelyn died in 1987.  Don had worked for the Wells Farmers Elevator for over 30 years. Don was a lifelong resident of Wells and a lifelong member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, as well as a member of the Wells Veterans of Foreign Wars and Wells American Legion for over 50 years. Donald married Edith (Lawson) Schulz on March 3, 1990, in Wells. The couple enjoyed traveling and spending winters in Texas.

Donald is survived by his wife, Edith Zabel, of Wells; son, Dennis (wife Muggs) Zabel of St. Clair; three grandchildren, Troy (wife, Kelly) Zabel, Jill Kroc (Mike Kroc), all of Mankato and Tracy (husband, Chris) Songe of New Prague; eight great-grandchildren, Haley, Shaya and Peyton Zabel, Riley, Christian and Kate Kroc, and George and Ian Songe; three brothers, Harold Zabel of Waseca, Duane (wife, Kathy) Zabel of Waldorf and Roger (wife, Linda) Zabel of Waseca; along with numerous nieces, nephews and their families.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Evelyn; granddaughter, Katie; three sisters, Marion, Shirley and Alverna; brothers Orville and Gordy and twin brothers at birth.