Donald Boettcher

Donald was born November 28, 1922, at rural Blue Earth Mn., the son of John L. and Mabel A. (Rajewsky) Boettcher.Donald was baptized at St. John''s Lutheran Church in Elmore and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Blue Earth. He was married to Irene Alfson on March 2, 1948 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blue Earth. He served in the U.S. Navy during WW II and in the Korean Conflict. He was a life long farmer on his family farm, where he was born and died in the same farm house, near Marna. Donald was also a lifetime member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and the American Legion Post 89 & VFW Post 4580 of Blue Earth. He had been a 4-H leader and was involved with Boy Scouts through the years. When Donald was not planting or caring for trees on the farm he was usually volunteering somewhere, most often at St. Luke''s Lutheran Care Center. For many years he was the volunteer Santa Claus for the Blue Earth Chamber of Commerce, St. Luke''s and other organizations. He loved photogaphy and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was full of knowledge and loved to tell stories of the "good old days" and appreciated teaching life and farm lessons to his granchildren. Donald celebrated patriotism by routinely hosting huge parties for family & friends on the 4th of July.Donald is survived by his wife, Irene Boettcher of Blue Earth, son, John (& wife Pat) Boettcher of Blue Earth, daughter, Paula (& husband Allen) Nuessmeier of Blue Earth, sister, Marjie Peterson of Blue Earth, sister, Ruth(& husband Jerome) Hanke of Blue Earth, sister, Harriet(& husband Vernal) Skogen of Delavan, sister, Corrine(& husband Bert) Schreiber of Chicago, sister-in-law, Donna Alfson of New Ulm, brother-in-law, Elwood (& wife Bev) Alfson of Winnebago, and brother-in-law, Howard Fish of Fedora, South Dakota. Also surviving are his grandchildren: Kara Ann (Fish) Mueller, Aaron Nuessmeier, Joshua Nuessmeier, Jonathon Nuessmeier, Dustin Goerndt, an aunt, Agnes Bjorklund, many nieces, nephews and friends.He was preceded in death by his parents, daughters, Mary & Janette Boettcher, son, Dale Boettcher, grandson, J. J. Boettcher, sister, Doris Fish, brothers-in-law: Palmer Peterson, Kermit Alfson, Roger Alfson, Wayne Alfson,sister-in-law, Marlene Lubitz, nieces, nephews and friends.