Donald Kark

Donald Ernest Kark, age 93 passed away peacefully on November 15, 2016 at St. Lukes Lutheran Care Center in Blue Earth, MN. He was born November 16, 1922 the oldest son of Emil E. Kark and Flora Bowman Kark. Don lived most of his life in Blue Earth before moving to Fort Myers, FL after retirement in 1988.Visitation will be Sunday, December 11, 2016, at Patton Funeral Home in Blue Earth from 3:00-6:00 with the memorial service Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Blue Earth at 11:00 on December 12, 2016. Don graduated from Blue Earth High School in 1941 and attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN for one year. In 1942 he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in preparation for military service in WWII. He was trained as a P-47 fighter pilot and flew 97 missions in the European Theater of the War. Two of these missions were flown during the Normandy D-Day Invasion. He attained the rank of First Lieutenant and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the air medal with clusters and the Presidential Citation.After the end of WWII in Europe Don returned to Blue Earth and married Marian E. Sattre on August 13, 1945. He assumed management of the family business, Blue Earth Rendering Co. and Kark''s Appetizer Feed Co. In 1956 he became a partner in the Hi-Way Ford auto dealership in Blue Earth. He served on the Board of Directors for Blue Earth State Bank for 35 years. Don was also co-manager of family owned rendering plants in Marianna, FL, Dothan, AL, and Osage, Iowa. He was a life member of the American Legion and the VFW. Don was also a member of Kiwanis Club and Trinity Lutheran Church ELCA, Blue Earth.Don loved airplanes and enjoyed flying. He continued to fly for both business and pleasure for more than 50 years. Many of his fondest memories were attending reunions each year for his P-47 Pilots Association. During retirement Don and Marian were also fortunate with their travels to all parts of the world.Don''s family was a very important part of his life. He and Marian moved back to Blue Earth in December 2014 to be closer to their family and relatives.Donald is survived by his wife, Marian of 71 years and children, Karelyn Kark Lacher of Blue Earth and David Kark of St. Mary''s Point, MN; grandchildren, Kara (Eli) Davis, Fort Worth, TX, Rachel (Yankten) Anderson, Blue Earth, Alyssa Kark, Nashville, TN, and Nathan Kark, Grand Rapids, MI; great- grandchildren; Isaiah and Elijah Davis and Riley Anderson.Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Flora Kark; sisters, Lorene Clark and Beverly Nave; brother, Arthur Kark; sister-in-law, Shirley Kark; brothers --in-law, DeVere Clark and Darrel Nave. Patton Funeral Home, Blue Earth is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be sent to St. Lukes Lutheran Care Center, Blue Earth or the Alzheimer''s Association website at alz.org.