Donald A. Dudley

“The time has come, said the Walrus” -Lewis Carroll

Donald A. Dudley, 91, of Fond du Lac, passed away on
Thursday, August 27, 2020. Don shared the same birthday as one of his
grandchild’s and he passed on the same day as a great grandchild’s birthday. He
was born to the late Arleigh and Myrtle (Grumann) Dudley in Northern Wisconsin
where his grandparents on both sides lived much of their lives and told stories
to their grandchildren of their adventures in Alaska while panning for gold and
running moonshine in the northern woods of Wisconsin.

On February 18th 1950, Don married
his sweetheart Mary Herbeck and celebrated 70 years of marriage.

“Old
too soon and wise too late” -Ben Franklin

He had a life full of adventures; From panning for gold in
Arizona with his brother Lee to traveling many times to Montana to visit his
daughter Debra with his three other daughters as well as skydiving at the age
of 70 with his daughter Diane. In some of his younger years he learned to scuba
dive and also traveled to Alaska while serving in the Army during the war.

While working for the State Patrol in Fond du Lac he climbed
communications towers many times to do repairs and went on to design a new
communication center. He wrote trade articles during his working years and read
everything he could get his hands on from Steven Hawkins to Stephen King,
always striving to expand his knowledge.

To
his family, friends and those he met, he enjoyed quoting poetry just as he
always did along with his siblings. He instilled a strong sense of family to
his children and was always there to offer sound advice and even a bit of
mischievous suggestions to his grandchildren. He was known to be a very social
person and enjoyed connecting with friends for lunch, stopping by his
children’s house for a quick visit as well as picking
up his grandkids on a Saturday afternoon for lunch on his 1966 Harley Davidson
Police Special.  He spent many summers at “Dudley’s Dugout” hosting many
family and friends, imparting his wisdom to all. His life has been
full.

“The time has come said the Walrus to talk of many
things: Of shoes and ships and sealing wax of cabbages and kings and why the
sea is boiling hot and whether pigs have wings.” -Lewis Carroll

Don is survived by his wife, Mary; six children, Daryl (Ann);
Debra (Jim); Dixie (Mike) Everson; Danny (Jammer); Diane (Paul) and Dena (Mike)
O’Loughlin; 16 grandchildren, Chris (Katie) Dudley, Mike (Dawn) Dudley, Joe
(Brooke) Dudley, Andy (Sarah) Dudley, Holly Dudley, Emily (Morgan) Sapp,
Jessica (Craig) Habeck, Miranda (Nate) Mecklenburg, Sarah Everson, Katie (Mike)
Kessler, Cortney (Jarred) Birschbach, Jake Dugenske, Chelsey Goebel, Alex
Goebel, Tanya O’Loughlin and Carmen (Tom) Greicar; 33 great-grandchildren as well
as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother,
Arleigh Dudley and his sister, Joanne DonLevy.

The family would like to thank the staff of Azura Memory
Care in Oshkosh for their wonderful care during his last weeks.

Due to the current pandemic, services will be held at a
later date. Cremation has taken place.

Online condolences may be shared at www.zacherlfuneralhome.com.  In lieu of
flowers please donate to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America https://alzfdn.org/support-us/donate/.