Donald Shelton

Donald L. Shelton, 69, of Waukon died Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at Mayo Health Franciscan Healthcare in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services were held Saturday, August 17 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.
Donald Lee Shelton was born July 11, 1944 in Livonia, MO, the son of Wayne and Carmineita (Hogg) Shelton. When he was one, the family moved to Ottumwa, where Don grew up and graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1962. He attended Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in Kirksville, MO, where he received a BA in economics in 1966.
June 25, 1966 he married Judi Hargrave in St. Louis, MO. They spent their first summer in Austin, MN, where Don worked at the country club. That fall they moved to Blooming Prairie, MN, where Don began a 20-year career at the local high school teaching economics, coaching the golf team, and representing the teacher's union. In the summers he was the club pro at the Blooming Prairie Country Club, which he and Judi managed. In 1988, Don moved to Waukon, where the family started JaDecc’S Computer Center. The business later transitioned to a U.S. Cellular authorized dealership.
Don was a member and former president of the Waukon Golf and Country Club. He enjoyed golf, fishing and following the Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Vikings, and he was a long-time devoted fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. Throughout Don’s life he enjoyed working with and being around people, but none were more special than his family. He loved to follow his kids' and now his grandkids' activities and gladly made his house the hub of family activity. He especially looked forward to hosting Memorial Day and Labor Day gatherings.
During the past year, Don had rekindled a relationship with his former college sweetheart, Catherine Dannenfeldt, and was enjoying her becoming a part of his family.
Survivors include his father, Wayne Shelton of Sioux Falls, SD; his fiancée (although they were already married in their hearts), Catherine Dannenfeldt; his children, Andrea Shelton of La Crosse, WI, Corey (Trish) Shelton and Chris (Lisa) Shelton, both of Waukon, and Eric (Jen) Shelton of Decorah; 11 grandchildren, Trey, Roman, Marissa, Caitlin, Abby, Emma, Eben, Lexi, Elle, Drake and Avery; his sister, Judy (Steve) Kurth of Waterville and their children Blaine (Crystal), Ross, and Don’s Goddaughter, Brooke (Jason) Troendle; and three brothers-in-law, Dave Hargrave of Mill Valley, CA, Dick (Linda) Hargrave of Las Vegas, NV, and Jimmy Hargrave of Loveland, CO.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Carmineita; his wife, Judi, who died in 2002; his father- and mother-in-law, Ralph and Irene Hargrave; and a sister-in-law, Toni Hargrave.
Honorary casketbearers were Elmer Alderdyce, Bill Kerndt, Roger Sorenson, Harold Ulrich and Ken West. Casketbearers were Corey, Chris and Eric Shelton and Steve, Blaine and Ross Kurth.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.