Obit: Schnabel, Donald Leon (1952 - 2017)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Schnabel, Seelow, Brekke, Grimm, Kirn, Meyer, Melvin, Berninghaus

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 1/03/2018

Schnabel, Donald Leon (7 December 1952 – 26 December 2017)

Donald L. Schnabel lost his battle with cancer here on earth Dec. 26, 2017, and now will rise above to his heavenly father.

Donald Leon Schnabel was born Dec. 7, 1952, to Leon and June (Seelow) Schnabel in Neillsville, he attended school in Neillsville at St. John Lutheran School, and Neillsville High School, graduating in 1971. He continued his education attending Radiology School in Eau Claire. He returned to Neillsville and worked at the Neillsville Memorial Center, until moving to La Crosse, and working at St. Francis hospital, having been trained in special procedures in x-ray. In 1975, Don was united in marriage to Lois Brekke at First Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. After his marriage, and the birth of their daughter, Don and his family would move to Cudahy, where he would work for 13 years at Trinity Memorial Hospital.

On his last venture, he would continue his career at St. Joseph Hospital in Marshfield, and worked there for nearly 30 years until his illness prevented him from working. He was blessed with many friends at Saint Joseph’s, and throughout his life. He was loved by so many. Don’s sense of humor was to be enjoyed by everyone he met. His work ethic was beyond compare, and earned him much respect.

Don enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, and spending time outdoors, but the love he had for his family was most important to him. He had a very special person in his life called his grandson, whom he enjoyed, and loved beyond measure.

He is survived by his wife and best friend of 42 years, Lois; his daughter, Heidi (Troy) Grimm; and his special grandson, Bryce, Marshfield. He is further survived by his mother, June Schnabel of Neillsville; sister Sharon (Ken) Kirn of Willard, and sister Diane (Dennis) Meyer of Cudahy; brothers-in-law, Mike Melvin of Neillsville, Jim (Donna) Brekke of Eau Claire, Paul (Pam) Brekke of Withee; sister-in-law Sally Brekke of Eau Claire; and many wonderful nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles, cousins, and friends.

Funeral services will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, 207 South Cherry Avenue, Marshfield, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, at 11 a.m. Reverend Gisele Berninghaus will officiate. Burial will take place in the Neillsville City Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be at the Hansen-Schilling Funeral Home, 1010 East Veterans parkway, Marshfield, Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and one hour before the time of service at the church.

We would like to thank all the doctors, and medical staff that treated Don at Marshfield Clinic and Saint Joseph Hospital, now the Marshfield Medical Center. The staff were so professional and kind. We would also like to give a special thank you to the Atrium Post-Acute Care of Marshfield, who gave Don such wonderful care, and helped our family during such a difficult time for the last two months. You weren’t just doing your job, you cared.