Donald E. St. Louis

EAU CLAIRE - Donald E. St. Louis, 75, of Eau Claire passed away at Sacred Heart Hospital on Thursday, March 15, 2007, from complications of multiple myeloma.

Don was born on July 24, 1931, to the late Albert J. Emma (Zurek) St. Louis at the old Sacred Heart Hospital. He was raised on Mt. Simon and graduated with honors and an outstanding school record from Eau Claire Senior High in 1950.

He was a member of the National Honor Society, Uthrotar, Badger Boys State, state officer in both boys State and Wisconsin Rotary, member of Hi-Y and Letter Club, President of the Lyceum and "Mike" and platter club, awarded the American Legion Distinguished Achievement Certificate, Service Medal, and outstanding Senior Boy.

After high school, Don attended Eau Claire State from 1950-1952 only to be drafted into the U.S. Army in October. He served in the 89th AAA Gun Battalion as part of the Distant Early Warning System in Baltimore, Md. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in October 1954.

Upon his return he went to work at National Presto in their contract division. In 1956, he married Dorothy Thomas, a marriage lasting 36 years until her death from Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Don returned to UW-EC graduating with a B.S. in education, earning the C. J. Brewer Award for excellence in student teaching. He then received an M.S. in Education from UW-Madison. His 28 year career as an educator began at Sherman School and included two years at Junior High School, 11 years at Locust Lane Elementary, 12 years at Manz Elementary and two years in the district's gifted and talented program. Don also coached after school sports for many years.

During his tenure with the Eau Claire School District, Don served on many district and state-wide curriculum and text adoption committees, co-authoring a Department of Public Instruction publication on composition, served nine years on the Teacher Negotiating Team and was president of the local ECEA for one year. Don was especially proud of being selected six different times to attend the Excellence in Teaching Awards Banquet.

A life long sports enthusiast, Don was an avid Packer and Boston Red Sox fan. He loved playing varsity sports and after high school participated in many softball and fast-pitch teams in the city and military. Don loved the out-of-doors and had many happy memories of fly fishing for bluegills and chasing partridge with his "best buddy", his brother, Ken.

He married his best friend and love of his life, Renee Edgell in 1996. He was a member of the Lake Street United Methodist Church and loved entertaining at their once a month dinners. He achieved a life-long dream of living on the lake in his last years catching bluegills to his hearts content. Family, friends and neighbors shared in the bounty of his surgically removed fillets, as well as his tasty pickled fish.

Don loved life and lived every day to the fullest. His sense of humor, quick wit and positive attitude affected all who knew him. He loved people from all walks of life, especially children. He was interested in everyone, always stopping to visit and listen, showing concern, sharing a story, or just to jabber. Don, or as his students and parents called him, "Mr. Saint," touched the lives of many who knew him. He wanted to be remembered as a "good man who made a difference."

Don is survived by: his wife, Renee; stepsons, John Edgell of Shoreview, Minn., Jeffrey Edgell of Phoenix, Ariz.; brother, Dr. Ken (Karen) St. Louis of Eau Claire; sister, Alberta (Milton) Peil of Eau Claire; mother-in-law, Virginia Olson; nephews, Dr. Erik (Kerith) St. Louis, David (Bonnie) Peil, Robert and Russell Peil, Bill (Shannon) Brorson, Michael Brorson, Pat Brorson, Steve Brorson; nieces, Belinda Knoeckel, Karen Rude, Lynn (Kent) Digby; great nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Linea (Glenn) Mortenson; brothers-in-law, Wayne (Debbie) Olson, Brian (Karen) Olson, Kenneth and David Olson; other family members and many friends.

He is preceded in death by: his parents; wife; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Ione (Bill) Brorson.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 24 at Lake Street United Methodist Church with the Reverend Kris Androsky officiating.

Visitation will be on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Evergreen Funeral Home (on Golf Road 1 block East of Hwy 93). Private interment will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the following: The Regional Cancer Center at Sacred Heart to provide staff support for personal and professional growth, Lake Street United Methodist Church, or a memorial fund is being established in Don's honor to provide scholarships for Elementary Education majors.

Evergreen Funeral Home is serving the family.