Obit: Kalsow, Donald "Kelly" Gustave #2 (1920 - 2010)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Kalsow, Wegner, Wilding, Zickert, Reinart, Johnson, Scharenbrock, Allen, Gerhardt, Buettner, Ristow, Nemitz, Dux, Biebert

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) December 29, 2010

Kalsow, Donald "Kelly" Gustave (14 March 1920 - 26 December 2010) With flag

Donald G. Kalsow, 90, of Neillsville, died Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield.

Donald Gustave Kalsow was born March 14, 1920, to Gustav and Minnie (Wegner) Kalsow in the Township of Weston.  He received his education at Christie and St. John’s Lutheran School and Neillsville High School.  He left for the army in 1942.  Donald received a medical discharge.  He worked at a variety of jobs as a young man upon returning from the service.  Donald worked four years at the sheriff’s department and spent 32 years at the post office as a rural carrier.  He retired from there in 1982.  He was united in marriage to Lucille Wilding in 1950.   They enjoyed bowling, snowmobiling and traveling.  He enjoyed fishing as a young man.  Lucille passed away in 1987.  After retiring, he spent time with is RV traveling, and he worked as a part time employee for Gross Motors in Neillsville.  In 1990, he married Bernice (Boon) Zickert.  They enjoyed camping and traveling. They spent the winters in Arizona and have many friends there.

Donald was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Chruch, a member of the American Legion for 66 years and served on the building committee for the new American Legion Hall.  He was a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, the Good Sam Camping Club, and he was a member of the Marshlanders camping group.

He is survived b y his wife, Bernice; and children, Beverly (Dale) Reinart of Neillsville, Barbara Johnson of Augusta, Wayne (Ethel) Kalsow of Neillsville, Frank (Cindy Zickert of Arpin, Dennis Zickert of Lyndon, IL, Linda (Steve) Scharenbrock of Willard and Cindy Zickert of Bonduel; 28 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and four sisters, Ruby Allen of Cedar Park TX, Gladys (Calvin) Gerhardt of Neillsville, Dorothy Buettner of Salem and Rachel Ristow of Wisconsin Rapids.

Donald was preceded in death by his first wife, Lucille; his parents; two sons, Rick and Terry Zickert; and a granddaughter, Olivia Jane Kalsow.

Funeral services for Donald will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Chruch in Neillsville.  Pastor Timothy Biebert will officiate.  Providing music will be Sharon Nemitz, organist, and Bunny Dux, soloist.  Visitation was from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.  Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery, with Military Honors accorded by the Neillsville Veterans Council.

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Donald’s family with funeral arrangements.