News staff
Donald Ray Groskreutz, age 79, passed away on Friday, October 18, 2024 at Patriot Place in Berlin, WI.
He was born on May 4, 1945 to Elmer and Ruth Schlueter Groskreutz. He was baptized on May 27, 1945 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wautoma and was confirmed at Emmaus Lutheran Church in Poy Sippi on May 17, 1959. Don attended a one-room country school in Wautoma through third grade, then school in Westfield fourth through sixth grade, and country school in Brushville seventh and eighth grade. He graduated from Berlin High School in 1963.
After graduation, Don worked at Berlin Chapman Foundary as a machinist and inspector until being drafted to serve in the U.S. Army. In the army he was stationed at Fort Sill, OK and trained to launch Pershing missiles at White Sands Missile Range, NM. He attained the rank of Spec E5 NCO, or sergeant, a non-commissioned officer before his discharge in 1968 after serving two years and 17 days in the Army. His service time was extended because he was hospitalized with a ruptured appendix.
After his service in the Army, Don worked at Oshkosh Truck and as a substitute mail carrier until he moved to Alaska in 1970.
In Alaska, he worked for two years at the Gold Mine, West of Fairbanks and also worked on the famous 800-mile TransAlaska Pipeline System for three years. He also worked at the North Pole refinery as a general foreman.
Later, Don had his own construction business and worked as a carpenter at the Valdez Oil Spill Response. He then went to the Valdez Terminal doing carpentry work, booming and de-booming oil tankers to prevent oil spills. He was known as “Hard Dollar Don” in Alaska.
For enjoyment, Don did a lot of fishing for halibut in Alaska. He caught many over 100 pounds, his biggest one being 217 pounds. Don had a lot of family and friends come to Alaska to enjoy fishing and the beauty of Alaska. One fishing trip with his nephews was especially challenging when they ran out of fuel on the ocean and the Coast Guard came to the rescue. After a lucrative career, spending 32 years in Alaska, Don retired in 2002 at the age of 57, and returned to Berlin.
Back in Wisconsin, Don enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and meeting his friends for breakfast and coffee at the local restaurant. His garden supplied plenty of tomatoes, peppers, beans and sweet corn for everyone to enjoy. He helped his family in building homes, sheds and hunting stands. When on a building project he would like to work from sunup to sundown. Otherwise, he said, “we were burning day light.” Until being diagnosed with bladder cancer, Don lived a very interesting life.
Don is survived by his twin sister, Donna (Donald) Dretske; brothers, Harlen, Gary (Jean), and Franklin (Gail); a sister-in-law, Suzanne Groskreutz; a son, Ray Donald Groskreutz of Alaska, and three grand‐ children. He is further survived by many nieces and nephews, including his favorite nephew, Eric; many great-nieces and great-nephews; many cousins, and several good friends, especially Mike Rodencal; and his very caring, helpful neighbor, Joanne Simon.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Kenneth; and a sister-in-law, Jean Groskreutz.
Family and friends may visit with the family on Monday, October 28, 2024, from 9-11:00 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Berlin. A funeral service will follow the visitation at 11:00 a.m. officiated by Pastor Rob Schrader. All are invited for a luncheon and a time for sharing in the church hall following the service. An inurnment with full military honors presented by the Wells-Krause VFW Post # 2925 will be held at the Brushville Cemetery at 2:00 p.m.
The family would like to thank Pastor Rob Schrader for all of his visits and prayers. We would also like to give thanks to all of the Hospice caregivers. For more information and to view a tribute video dedicated to Don, please refer to www.wieckiskipchakfuneralhome.com. Wiecki-Skipchak Funeral Home 116 S. Adams Ave Berlin, WI 54923 (920) 361-2050.
