Donald Herbert Magedanz

Magedanz, Donald Herbert April 15, 1933 April 25, 2012, Donald Herbert Magedanz passed away Wednesday, April 25, 2012. He was born in Pewaukee /Waukesha on April 15, 1933, to Edward John Magedanz and Jessie Ann (nee Steiner) Magedanz. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Dona Lee (nee Mielke) Magedanz, on November 19, 2011. He was also preceded in death by his brother Ed, sister Edith, sister Mildred, as well as his parents. Don went to school in Pewaukee. Following school, he went to help on the family farm and blacksmith shop, as well as other jobs. He then volunteered for and served in the US Army. He was initially stationed at Camp Atterbury, where he was trained in heavy weapons, and then served as mail clerk and corporal at Fort Carson he was eventually honorably discharged in 1961. He was very proud of his service and time in the US Military. Don later joined the Operating Engineers Union Local 139 and was an extremely proud 50+ year member he recently was honored for that longevity. He spent most of that time working as a heavy equipment operator for Gebhardt Bros. Excavating and ending his career with New Berlin Grading. Don married Dona Lee in 1957 and moved to Oconomowoc in 1959 where they built a home on Lac La Belle. They had one son, David J. Magedanz. They were long-time members of Dr. Martin Luther Church in Oconomowoc. Don and Dona Lee were divorced in the early 1980s. Don was later remarried in 1997 to Rosemary (nee Roe) Magedanz, who had eight children of her own, and more than 20 grandchildren. They lived in Watertown and were eventually divorced in 2011. Don cared deeply for his family and friends and was always quick to offer his help in any way (literally up to the end of his life), yet hated to impose upon anyone at all. He truly enjoyed working on and fixing motors cars, boats, snowmobiles, lawn mowers, weed eaters, and so on. He loved his yard work, especially mowing lawn. He loved listening to music, especially polkas, waltzes, and marches, and he was very supportive of all of Dave's musical endeavors. Don is survived by his son, Dave (Karen) Magedanz, of Oconomowoc, Waukesha, and now Watertown, and step grandchildren, Scott and Karrie Graf of Waukesha, and his loving sister, Lorraine (Clarence) Gerbig of Duplainville. He is further survived by his many relatives, and friends, as well as his former wife Rosemary, and her family. Family and friends may visit from 4-6:30 PM with funeral service at 6:30 PM on Friday, May 4, at Schmidt and Bartelt Funeral Home, 121 S. Cross St., Oconomowoc. A private family-only burial will be held on Saturday afternoon at 2 PM on May 5, for his final rest at the St. Peter and Paul cemetery in Duplainville (Pewaukee). Memorials to the American Cancer Society and Alzheimer's Association/Society are appreciated.