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Donald Stanley Straka, 89, of Dorchester passed away peacefully Sunday, May 21, 2023 at Gundersen Hospital in La Crosse, WI surrounded by family. His funeral service was held at Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church Friday, May 26 with Pastor James Glesne officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Roble Funeral Home of Spring Grove, MN assisted the family with arrangements.
Don is survived by his wife, Judy (Haugse); his daughters, Ana (Kevan) Larive of Grimes, Stacy (Luther) Linderbaum of Dorchester and Amy (Brian) Lenning of Ogden; his grandchildren, Jayme Lenning of Perry, Jacob Lenning of Boone and Lily Lenning of Ogden; and one sibling, Darlene Lerch of Marion; along with many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Emily; his parents, Paul and Libbie (Vojt) Straka; his sister, Vera Kucera; and his brothers, Clyde and Joseph Straka.
Don was born February 12, 1934 in Cedar Rapids. After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War. Once he returned from the war, he attended auto mechanic school in Kansas City. Don worked for Iowa Generator, the City of Cedar Rapids and B & G Auto in Waukon, prior to becoming a full-time farmer.
Donald married Judy Haugse March 31, 1967 at First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. They bought a farm and moved to northeast Iowa where they raised crops and milked Ayrshire cows until retirement.
Donald was a long-time member of Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church, where he served in various offices. The members of the church made him an honorary Norwegian for his 60th birthday. Don loved a good joke, he enjoyed gardening, reading, woodworking and especially tinkering in his garage. Don would often state that he was a “jack of all trades but master of none”.
Don’s family would like to thank the doctors and staff of Gundersen Hospital for their compassionate care.