Don Bakke
Don O. Bakke, 89, of Waukon died Friday, October 31, 2025, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Tuesday, November 4 at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon with Pastor Marshall Hahn officiating. Burial with military honors was in the church cemetery.
Donald Ordell Bakke was born July 12, 1936, in La Crosse, WI, the son of Theodore and Gladys (Fossum) Bakke. He was baptized and confirmed at West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon and graduated from Waukon High School in 1954. Don lived for farming and spent his whole life on the family dairy farm until moving into Waukon in the 1980s. After retiring, he’d still go out and find something to tinker with or fix. His last trip to the farm was a special one with granddaughter Breanna taking him out Labor Day, 2025. Don also worked at Northern Engraving after retiring from the farm.
While in 4-H, Don met a girl named Joyce Schoh. She became the love of his life and they married April 18, 1959, in Eitzen, MN. Also in 1959, Don was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving until 1961. Don and Joyce were members of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon until they started going to Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church, where he was a deacon and served on the church board. Don also served on the Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank board for 31 years, the Soil and Water Conservation District for 12 years, and was on the Board of Farm Service in both Waukon and Decorah. He also belonged to the Holstein Association and Farm Bureau.
Don’s hobbies included hauling corn and hay. However, he also enjoyed mowing, gardening, going to Green’s Sugarbush, and talking and visiting for hours. Forever a “windshield farmer,” Don liked driving around, checking out the fields as he went by. People would learn that when they saw a red GMC coming down the road, to get out of the way because he may be too invested in the fields around him rather than driving. More than anything though, Don adored his grandchildren and spoiled them rotten.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Joyce, of Waukon; three sons, Randy, Kevin, and Dave Bakke, all of Waukon; his grandchildren: Sean, Justin, Cassie (Shannon Alber), Jordin (Hannah), Brady, Jenna (Alan Bentley), Bree (Dylan Bork), and Breanna Bakke; his great-grandchildren: Nolan, Caymen, Owen, Kingston, Emilia, and Reid; his nephews, Scott and Bryan Willger; and his brothers- and sisters-in-law, Lilah and Butch Troendle, Joe and Pat Schoh, and Ruby Schoh.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Lois (Herman) Willger.
Don’s granddaughters served as honorary casketbearers. Casketbearers were his grandsons and Scott Willger.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
