With his family at his side, Don Pehl, 74, of rural Gratiot, entered Eternal Life on Thursday, October 2nd, 2008 just less than two months after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
Donald Dean Pehl was born on March 27, 1934 on a farm one mile south of Woodford, the son of Henry "Hank" and Ella (Van Meter) Pehl and spent his childhood years on a farm one mile north of town. He graduated from South Wayne High School in 1951. From 1955 to 1957 he served with the U.S. Army in Europe, visiting every country. On September 7, 1957, he married the love of his life, Clarice Irene Berget at West Wiota Lutheran Church.
In 1951, "Donnie" began his banking career at the Woodford State Bank as assistant cashier and at the age of 18 was believed to be the youngest bank officer in the United States at that time. After his term in the Army, he worked for Thorpe Finance in Monroe. From 1959 to 1966 he was employed at the Gratiot State Bank. In expanding his education, he completed night courses and was also a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Course serving as graduate assistant. He left banking to sell stocks and annuities with Investors Diversified Services. 50 years after starting at the Woodford Bank, Don returned there as a courier during the summer months.
Dad loved to travel. He had a lifelong dream to be a trucker and so began his career with Morgan Drive Away, Hughes Mobile Homes, McMorhan Trucking, Carry Transit, and Quality Carriers. During this time, he logged over 3 million miles without a chargeable accident. At one time he was a steward and then president of the Teamsters Union Local #579. In 1991 Dad received an honorable mention for his story "My Day in Court" that was published in the "Truckers News". It told of his unbelievable amount of bad luck he had in just one day and he loved to tell that story. In June of 1999 Dad took a three-month road trip to Alaska. He planned for several months for this "adventure of a life time" and toured the state from top to bottom. He roughed it by sleeping in his van and eating canned foods. He panned for gold and spent hours at museums along the way. A favorite joke we have is that Dad could study a rock for hours. Throughout the years, he and mom took many trips and he was proud to say he had been in all 50 of the United States as well as all of the Canadian provinces. For many years, Dad & Mom were snowbirds in Florida. Last year, son Todd treated them to a long planned pontoon adventure on the Gulf of Mexico. A highlight of daughter Brenda and husband's annual trip to Florida was being greeted by Dad at the airport each time.
Throughout his years, Dad was a community minded person. He served on the boards of Rural Electrification Program, Lafayette Electric Co-op as president, Wisconsin Electric Co-op Assn, and Dairyland Power Cop-op both as a board member and chairman of the board of directors. He was a volunteer driver for and delegate on the Lafayette County Commission on Aging. When his children were in school, he served on the Black Hawk School Board both as member and president as well as a bus driver for the district. He also had been a Boy Scout leader and an Easter Seal Chairman. In addition, he was a past member of the Gratiot VFW Post #9692.
In 1969 Dad became a certified Wisconsin Tree Farmer from the S.W. WI. Vocational Ag School. With the help of his wife, young children, and good friend Vernon, they planted rows of pine trees that thrive today. Dad often teased to his son-in-law that the walnut trees that didn't make it would be his someday. In 1986 he was awarded a plaque from Gratiot Sportsmen's Club for maintaining an excellent wildlife area. In 1997, Dad sold the tree farm to son Tim. They have continued to work together to maintain the "Pehl Woods." A great joy of Dad's was giving rides in the old "Scout" on the trails he forged.
Dad was a member of the Wiota John Deere Collectors Club along with son Brad. Dad also loved antique cars and he and Brad would attend the Pecatonica Valley Antique Club Show with the family's 1931 Model A Pickup.
Dad was thrifty. That thriftiness caused him to tinker endlessly to create, fix, improve, or just put his own spin on anything he touched. There's the "Yukon" steps, the homemade cabin on wheels, the semi truck sleeper, the modified van he drove to Alaska, and the barn lowering project to name a few.
Dad LOVED being a speaker. He had a way with words as well as being able to make everyone laugh. Thinking of the tribute to "Ma" on her 80th birthday, the numerous times that he was emcee for class reunions and family gatherings, and how he loved to pick on the Norwegians and tell a good joke certainly will bring smiles to many faces. A friend recently said, "If a person can make someone smile and laugh then that person has succeeded in life." Dad was definitely a success.
Dad is a Christian and was an active lifelong member of the Wiota Lutheran Congregation. He served as a Sunday school superintendent and teacher for several years when his children were small. In later years, he was a reader, an usher, a greeter, and a communion server as well as a council member. Dad knew he was going to a better place.
Dad's great joys in life were many but we know his family was the most important of all. He loved each one of us dearly, including his daughters in law to whom he often said, "The best thing that ever happened to you was to marry a Pehl." "Grandpa" was very proud of his 4 grandchildren and each one has fond memories to cherish.
Don is survived by his wife of 51 years, Clare; his "favorite daughter" Brenda (Art) Payne of Monroe; "three fine sons": Brad (Nancy) of Juda, Todd (Jeannie Ferrer) of Edgerton, Tim (Rhonda) of Gratiot; 4 loving grandchildren: Rianna Christen of Fitchburg, Mitchell Christen of Monroe, Amber Hole of Argyle and Mackenzie Hole of Gratiot. He is further survived by his sister Joyce (Ernie) Steinmann of Argyle and brothers Glen (Mazie) of Charlotte, NC, Neil (Judy) of Cedarville, IL, and David "Buzz" (Patti) of Harlingen, TX. He is also survived by an uncle, Willis Van Meter of Beloit and many nieces and nephews.
Don was predeceased by his father in 1973, his mother and two nephews, Randy, in 2004 and Robert in 2006. Also preceding him in death were a sister-in-law Virginia Monaghan in 2000, and brother-in-law Lawrence Berget in 1972.
Services will be held Monday, October 6th, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Wiota Lutheran Church in Wiota, Wisconsin with Reverend Sara Gillespie officiating. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday at the church and from 10 a.m. until time of services on Monday. Burial will be in the West Wiota Cemetery where Military graveside rites will be accorded by Gratiot VFW Post #9692 honors will be observed.
For those who prefer, a memorial fund has been established in Don's name.
In Dad's own words: "I've had a good life."
Donald Dean Pehl was born on March 27, 1934 on a farm one mile south of Woodford, the son of Henry "Hank" and Ella (Van Meter) Pehl and spent his childhood years on a farm one mile north of town. He graduated from South Wayne High School in 1951. From 1955 to 1957 he served with the U.S. Army in Europe, visiting every country. On September 7, 1957, he married the love of his life, Clarice Irene Berget at West Wiota Lutheran Church.
In 1951, "Donnie" began his banking career at the Woodford State Bank as assistant cashier and at the age of 18 was believed to be the youngest bank officer in the United States at that time. After his term in the Army, he worked for Thorpe Finance in Monroe. From 1959 to 1966 he was employed at the Gratiot State Bank. In expanding his education, he completed night courses and was also a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Course serving as graduate assistant. He left banking to sell stocks and annuities with Investors Diversified Services. 50 years after starting at the Woodford Bank, Don returned there as a courier during the summer months.
Dad loved to travel. He had a lifelong dream to be a trucker and so began his career with Morgan Drive Away, Hughes Mobile Homes, McMorhan Trucking, Carry Transit, and Quality Carriers. During this time, he logged over 3 million miles without a chargeable accident. At one time he was a steward and then president of the Teamsters Union Local #579. In 1991 Dad received an honorable mention for his story "My Day in Court" that was published in the "Truckers News". It told of his unbelievable amount of bad luck he had in just one day and he loved to tell that story. In June of 1999 Dad took a three-month road trip to Alaska. He planned for several months for this "adventure of a life time" and toured the state from top to bottom. He roughed it by sleeping in his van and eating canned foods. He panned for gold and spent hours at museums along the way. A favorite joke we have is that Dad could study a rock for hours. Throughout the years, he and mom took many trips and he was proud to say he had been in all 50 of the United States as well as all of the Canadian provinces. For many years, Dad & Mom were snowbirds in Florida. Last year, son Todd treated them to a long planned pontoon adventure on the Gulf of Mexico. A highlight of daughter Brenda and husband's annual trip to Florida was being greeted by Dad at the airport each time.
Throughout his years, Dad was a community minded person. He served on the boards of Rural Electrification Program, Lafayette Electric Co-op as president, Wisconsin Electric Co-op Assn, and Dairyland Power Cop-op both as a board member and chairman of the board of directors. He was a volunteer driver for and delegate on the Lafayette County Commission on Aging. When his children were in school, he served on the Black Hawk School Board both as member and president as well as a bus driver for the district. He also had been a Boy Scout leader and an Easter Seal Chairman. In addition, he was a past member of the Gratiot VFW Post #9692.
In 1969 Dad became a certified Wisconsin Tree Farmer from the S.W. WI. Vocational Ag School. With the help of his wife, young children, and good friend Vernon, they planted rows of pine trees that thrive today. Dad often teased to his son-in-law that the walnut trees that didn't make it would be his someday. In 1986 he was awarded a plaque from Gratiot Sportsmen's Club for maintaining an excellent wildlife area. In 1997, Dad sold the tree farm to son Tim. They have continued to work together to maintain the "Pehl Woods." A great joy of Dad's was giving rides in the old "Scout" on the trails he forged.
Dad was a member of the Wiota John Deere Collectors Club along with son Brad. Dad also loved antique cars and he and Brad would attend the Pecatonica Valley Antique Club Show with the family's 1931 Model A Pickup.
Dad was thrifty. That thriftiness caused him to tinker endlessly to create, fix, improve, or just put his own spin on anything he touched. There's the "Yukon" steps, the homemade cabin on wheels, the semi truck sleeper, the modified van he drove to Alaska, and the barn lowering project to name a few.
Dad LOVED being a speaker. He had a way with words as well as being able to make everyone laugh. Thinking of the tribute to "Ma" on her 80th birthday, the numerous times that he was emcee for class reunions and family gatherings, and how he loved to pick on the Norwegians and tell a good joke certainly will bring smiles to many faces. A friend recently said, "If a person can make someone smile and laugh then that person has succeeded in life." Dad was definitely a success.
Dad is a Christian and was an active lifelong member of the Wiota Lutheran Congregation. He served as a Sunday school superintendent and teacher for several years when his children were small. In later years, he was a reader, an usher, a greeter, and a communion server as well as a council member. Dad knew he was going to a better place.
Dad's great joys in life were many but we know his family was the most important of all. He loved each one of us dearly, including his daughters in law to whom he often said, "The best thing that ever happened to you was to marry a Pehl." "Grandpa" was very proud of his 4 grandchildren and each one has fond memories to cherish.
Don is survived by his wife of 51 years, Clare; his "favorite daughter" Brenda (Art) Payne of Monroe; "three fine sons": Brad (Nancy) of Juda, Todd (Jeannie Ferrer) of Edgerton, Tim (Rhonda) of Gratiot; 4 loving grandchildren: Rianna Christen of Fitchburg, Mitchell Christen of Monroe, Amber Hole of Argyle and Mackenzie Hole of Gratiot. He is further survived by his sister Joyce (Ernie) Steinmann of Argyle and brothers Glen (Mazie) of Charlotte, NC, Neil (Judy) of Cedarville, IL, and David "Buzz" (Patti) of Harlingen, TX. He is also survived by an uncle, Willis Van Meter of Beloit and many nieces and nephews.
Don was predeceased by his father in 1973, his mother and two nephews, Randy, in 2004 and Robert in 2006. Also preceding him in death were a sister-in-law Virginia Monaghan in 2000, and brother-in-law Lawrence Berget in 1972.
Services will be held Monday, October 6th, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Wiota Lutheran Church in Wiota, Wisconsin with Reverend Sara Gillespie officiating. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday at the church and from 10 a.m. until time of services on Monday. Burial will be in the West Wiota Cemetery where Military graveside rites will be accorded by Gratiot VFW Post #9692 honors will be observed.
For those who prefer, a memorial fund has been established in Don's name.
In Dad's own words: "I've had a good life."