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Obituary for Donald F. Meyer


Donald F. Meyer, 85, of La Crosse passed away peacefully at Eagle Crest South on January 10, 2021. Don was born on February 20, 1935, in La Crosse to Marie and Karl Meyer. He was baptized and confirmed at English Lutheran Church. Don graduated from Central High School in 1953. He enjoyed sports, especially football and basketball. Friends endearingly called him “Mas” and “Sonny”. In 1955, Don enlisted in the Army and served in the states for two years. In 1958, he married Beverly Erickson of La Crosse and they later divorced. Don was employed at Trane Company in La Crosse for 34 years as a commodity manager. He loved his job and the opportunity that it provided to travel to places like Japan, Germany, and Austria in later years. He made many good friends throughout his career. Don actively served on the La Crosse County Board and many committees for 25 years until 2014. He looked forward to Zoning Committee road trips with a coffee stop at Linda’s Bakery. He truly enjoyed those years of serving his community. Other than his service in the Army, he spent his entire life living on the south side of La Crosse and was proud to call it home. In his 85 years, he always lived within two miles of Losey Blvd. He had many lifelong and dear friends in the community who enjoyed his wonderful sense of humor, and gentle compassionate spirit. Many of those friends would have liked to return the practical jokes he played on them over the years. In 1985, he married the love of his life, Jackie Larson. They enjoyed many years together celebrating life with family and friends. He loved visits with the grandkids and always looked forward to the next time. The grandogs brought joy to him as well. Their travels took them on many memorable cruises and trips including Minocqua, Wis. and Marco Island, Fla. yearly. Their recent trips to Lake City, Minn., gave them special time together near the Mississippi River that Don loved after years of boating and camping. Don was a dedicated Green Bay Packer fan. He attended numerous Packer games at Lambeau Field and the old Milwaukee County Stadium often including a Saturday Badger game in Madison along the way if he could. He had tickets to the Ice Bowl in 1967 but did not attend and unlike half of Wisconsin in later years, he was honest about it. Don once won the weekly autographed football giveaway on the old Packerama television show by submitting a question to the hosts, Bart Starr and Doug Hart, that they found to be the most interesting. There were few things he enjoyed more than sitting in the stands at a Packer game. If not in person, it would be an unlikely occasion he missed watching the game on television. His life has been one of God’s greatest blessings to us. We will all miss him dearly. Don is survived by his wife, Jackie; two children, Mark (Susie Schooff) Meyer and Cindy (Chris) Zimmerman; two stepchildren, Jennifer (Joe) Gregas and Adriane (fiancée Jeffrey Miller) Larson; five grandchildren, Tedon Zimmerman, Jaiden Zimmerman, Gavin Gregas, Olivia Gregas, and Gianna Gregas; stepgrandson, Jack Rongstad; Goddaughter, Liz Lasee; Mother-in-law, Eileen Paggi; Sisters-in-law, Cindy (Ron) Peterson, Mary (Eric) Artschwager, and Carol Paggi; Brothers-in-law, Michael (Mary) Paggi and Jeff (Therese) Paggi; and many nieces and nephews. Don was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Suzanne; sister, Charlotte; brother-in-law, Bill; nephew, Tom; and father-in-law, John Paggi. Private family services will be held at Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Home. Military honors will be rendered by the Roy L. Vingers American Legion Post 52 of La Crosse at Mormon Coulee Cemetery at a later date. Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, La Crosse, is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent online to www.jandtfredrickson.com or meyer.jackie064@gmail.com. Memorials may be given to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, La Crosse, Salvation Army, or Coulee Region Humane Society. The family would like to thank Dr. Michael Dolan, Mona Cox, and the staff in HAAL at Eagle Crest South for Don’s long term care.