Donald Walter Kielman

Donald Walter Kielman, 89, passed away on Friday, September 16, 2022. He was born June 26, 1933, to Victor A. and Hilda L. (Zickau) Kielman. Donny grew up enjoying adventure more than books, playing in the marsh as a young boy and even bringing the first Triumph Motorcycle to Fond du Lac as a young man, rattling the old downtown windows of Main Street. Don met the love of his life, Joan Marie Forberg, when giving her and a friend a ride home from St. Mary’s Springs Academy, and they were married at St. Louis Church over 67 years ago on May 21, 1955. Together they raised four children remaining in the Fond du Lac area.

Donald served as a member of the National Guard. Don was a man of his word when handshakes still meant everything. He was a hard worker employed most of his life as a carman at the Soo Line Railroad until his retirement in 1995. Don was also a skilled baker working under the guide of Mr. Everix. Don’s hot buns were the best! He also co-owned and operated a window washing business until the Doc said he had to give it up and the cigarettes or die with emphysema. He listened and switched to his vice of choice: Skoal Classic Long Cut, the kind in the black and burgundy tin can.

Don was known for his witty sense of humor, wearing mischief behind his brown eyes and with the indentation of the Skoal can showing through his left breast pocket (and always some tucked in his lower lip). Don had jet black hair, but when he grew a goatee, it was colored salt and pepper only until at almost 90 years old did he finally match pure white.

Donald enjoyed many hobbies. He had an avid green thumb, cultivating African violets, growing annual gardens, and canning veggies. He made the best holiday brandy fruit cakes (not kidding!), popcorn balls, and grilled his meat to well-done only. During a layoff early in his railroad career, Dad took up crocheting, creating hundreds of masterpiece heirloom afghans sitting in the corner by the warmth of the up-north fireplace. Don popped crave worthy stove kettle popped popcorn, drove long distances for Chinese food runs, and was best known for his sweet teeth…the baker never left the bakery…enjoying Raymer’s Geneva Creams best of all.

What Dad loved, he loved fiercely. In 1966 Don and Joan purchased Kielman’s Carefree Acres in Homestead, Wisconsin. The cabin became his lifestyle of choice especially in retirement preferring the peace and quiet of their 40 acres and the hundreds of deer he looked after during long Wisconsin winters in the woods. Dad was happiest up-north tipping back a couple Negra Modelo beers with his chair leaned against the sauna wall, and over the years with a furry friend, one of his many boxers, curled at his feet.

Donald is survived by his beloved wife, Joan; his children, Michael (Julene), David, Brian and Mary (Tony Mietzel); his grandchildren, who were the apples of his eyes: Khristy (Erik Knudtson), Joshua, Nicholas, Maddy and Victor; his sister, Rosalyn (Schwark) and sister-in-law, Sylvia. Dad was happy to meet and share treats with the newest family member, a joyful Saint Bernard named Daisy. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and brother, Ken Kielman.

Per Don’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Family requests private condolences.