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Donald J. Sivesind, 83, of Dorchester died Thursday, October 30, 2014 at Thornton Manor in Lansing. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 5 at 11 a.m. at Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial with military honors will be at the church cemetery. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, November 4 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.
Donald James Sivesind was born June 14, 1931 in Chariton, the son of Harold and Josephine Etta (Funk) Sivesind. At a very young age he moved with his family to rural Waukon, where he was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church and attended Waukon High School. From 1948 until 1952, Don served in the United States Navy as a Gunner’s Mate and saw duty in China and Korea.
Following his discharge, Don returned to northeast Iowa, where August 15, 1954 he married Mary Jean Tangen at the Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah. He worked road construction near Waukon until 1962, when he moved his family to Bakersfield, CA. Don worked in the production of oil in the California oil fields for 30 years. After retiring, he moved back to Dorchester in 1995 and has lived there ever since.
Don liked being outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was an accomplished woodworker and knowledgeable auto mechanic. He also enjoyed traveling. His family was important to Don; when his kids were young he was very involved with following all of their activities, and later followed his grandchildren's activities.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Mary Jean Sivesind of Dorchester; three children: Jeff of Waukon, Jim of Los Angeles, CA and Pam (Chris) Hillis of Bakersfield, CA; five grandchildren, Eric, Nicholas, Lief and Kristin Sivesind, and Spence Hillis; three step-grandchildren, Amber and Greg Linder and Jason Hillis; two great-grandchildren, Dyllan and Kaitlynn Sivesind; a brother, Gerald “Jerry” (Sue) Sivesind of Waukon; and his brothers- and sisters-in-law, Gordon and Sandra Tangen and John and JoAnn Tangen, all of Dorchester, and Janet and Dave Starr of Seattle, WA. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Kenneth (Ruby) Sivesind and Robert Sivesind; and a step-grandson, Lance Hillis.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.