Donald “Don” E. Sawall, age 93 of Clintonville passed away Thursday morning, October 7, 2021 at the ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Neenah due to Covid-19 complications.
Donald was born on November 19, 1927 in the Town of Mukwa, Waupaca County as the son of the late Ervin and Edna (Knapp) Sawall. Don graduated from Clintonville High School with the Class of 1945 where he lettered in both basketball and football. Soon after high school he went on to serve his country in the United States Army where he was stationed in Italy during WWII. After his discharge from the Army he returned home and was united in marriage to Carmen Oestreich at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in New London on February 26, 1949. The couple moved to Clintonville where they were charter members of the St. Paul Lutheran Church. In addition to being among the original founders of the church, Don also served many years as a church Elder and church Treasurer. Don worked for a number of places in the area including FWD Seagrave from 1956 until his retirement in 1992. He was a member of the Clintonville VFW Post #664 and American Legion Post #63 for many years, serving on the military honor team for most of those years. Also he was very active in the community and served as Alderman and also on many city boards. In his spare time, Don enjoyed getting together with friends and family playing cards and horseshoes. Don loved to be outdoors catching fish, hunting, gardening, or even just cutting firewood. He will forever be cherished by his family as a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather.
Survivors include: his children: Linda (Robert) Oestreich, Donald (Rose) Sawall, Thomas (Sherry) Sawall, Connie (Don) Nimis, Kathleen (Nick) Van Dinter, and Steve (Terri Novak) Sawall. Don was also survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Carmen in 2001, and siblings; Milton, Ramona, Verlyn, and Jeannie.
Don’s funeral service will be held Monday, October 11, 2021 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Clintonville with Rev. Caleb Rothfuss officiating. Interment will follow at Graceland Cemetery in Clintonville with full military honors by members of VFW Post #664, American Legion #63, DAV Chapter #53, and American Legion Auxiliary Unit #63. Visitation will be held at the church on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. With respect to Don’s passing of Covid his family requests that you please wear a mask if attending the service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established by his family. The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory of Clintonville is assisting his family. www.eberhardtstevenson.com