Donald A. Juers, of Appleton, left this life peacefully holding his daughters’ hands at Cherry Meadows Hospice on Jan. 3, 2015.
Don was born on Dec. 2, 1925, in Lake City, Minnesota, the son of Albert and Margaret Juers. Don worked on the family farm after graduating from Lake City High School in 1943. He took care of his sisters and brother as his parents died very young. Later he attended the University of Minnesota, where he met his wife, Muriel, the love of his life. They were married on Sept. 9, 1950. Don graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in December 1950.
Don started working as an accountant at Ernst and Ernst, Minneapolis Moline Company and Hamm Brewing Company in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, area. In 1960, the family moved to Shawano, where he worked at Consolidated Badger (now AMPI) and retired as director of finance and treasurer.
During his professional career he was active in the Wisconsin Society of Certified Public Accountants and the National Association of Accountants, serving as president from 1971-1972. He published two professional articles on accounting and enjoyed preparing taxes for clients throughout his career.
Don was elected to the Shawano County School Board for many years and served as president for several years. As an active and faithful church member in the Shawano United Methodist Church and at Zion United Methodist Church in Door County, he served on various church committees, attended annual conference sessions and volunteered as church treasurer. His wife and daughters were very active in Girl Scouts, which he supported in many ways. He served as a member of the Masonic Lodge in Shawano and assisted in the planning for Mason Woods Retirement Community.
In 1992, Don travelled to Latvia, Eastern Europe, as a volunteer to help dairy plant workers improve and implement dairy business processes.
Throughout his life, Don fished and fished and fished! Many happy days were spent in his boat on Lake Michigan reeling in the “big one.” He made many excursions out West to fly fish in the mountains of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming with his grandsons, cousin, friends and on his own. He also enjoyed hunting and cross-country skiing, and was an avid reader and a talented woodworker. Among his woodworking creations are furniture, a chess set, a grandfather clock, a cradle, cross-country skis, snow shoes, a violin and his beloved cabin in Baileys Harbor, built when he was 72 years old.
Don and Muriel were blessed with three daughters who were raised to love camping, canoeing, music and reading. Don and his wife, Muriel, taught their daughters many valuable lessons, the most important one being unconditional love.
After Muriel’s death in 1994, Don sold the family home in Shawano and moved to Baileys Harbor, Door County, once his cabin was completed. His move to Door County was a natural transition as the family had previously spent many summer vacations and weekends camping there together. As a resident, Don became very active volunteering at the Ridges Sanctuary Nature Center. He built and repaired wildlife trails and center projects. At the age of 88, Don was still one of the best trap shooters at the gun club, where he enjoyed the sport immensely.
Throughout his life, Don was a loving husband, father, grandpa and great-grandpa (aka Papa Don). He was a loyal friend to many and always treated everyone with kindness and respect.
Don will be sadly missed by his daughters, Elizabeth (John) Skinner, of Apopka, Florida, Ellen (Greg) Bryant, of Appleton, and Dee (Jim) Hapke, of Ames, Iowa; grandchildren, Amanda Skinner (Ryan Byrd), Erik Skinner, Amy Wockenfus, Kristin (Adrian) Gontea, Jon (fiancee Jesse Harper) Hapke, Peter Hapke, Sam Hapke and Hannah Hapke; great-granddaughters, Lucia Gontea, Natalie Gontea and Karina Byrd; sister, Verna Ringler, of California; many nieces, nephews and caring friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Muriel; parents, Albert and Margaret Juers; a sister, Leona; and a brother, Linley.
A memorial service will be held at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 733 College Ave., Appleton, on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at 11 a.m. Family and friends may gather at the church from 10 a.m. until the service begins.
Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N. Superior St., Appleton, is assisting the family.