Donald Schacht Obituary
Publish in a newspaper
He was born in West Bend on February 25, 1931 to Lester and Bernice (Averill) Schacht. He married Charlotte Feucht on September 12, 1953 in Leroy, WI. Married for 33 years, they raised three daughters: Susan Schmuhl, Patrice Starrett, and Jodi (William) Wiesneski. Don married Carol Toepfer on March 23, 1990 and gained an additional five members as a blended family: Beth (Steve) Ettl, Janine (Peter) Selten, Mary (Joe) Lyden, John Toepfer, and Steve Toepfer. He is survived by 20 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, two sisters-in-law, Gertrude Roets and Joyce Guse, and two brothers-in-law, Norman Schmidt and David (Sue) Rohlinger. He was predeceased by his first wife Charlotte, two sons-in-law, Dennis Schmuhl and William Starrett, three grandsons and his two sisters and one brother.
He enlisted in the Army and served active duty from January 1949 through July 1950, prior to the Korean War, while stationed in Okinawa, Japan. He returned to West Bend and worked for over 40 years at the Gehl Company. He enjoyed his retirement by golfing, cooking, playing cards, traveling and spending time with family and friends. He kept sharp by playing solitaire on the computer and doing word searches. He had a generous, loving spirit, kind smile (smirk), and always a twinkle in his eye. He left a lasting impression on everyone he met.
We invite all who knew Don to join us for a celebration of life on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. Visitation will begin at 9:00am at Holy Angels Catholic Church, 138 N 8th Ave in West Bend. A mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00am.
Donations may be made in Don's name to The Kathy Hospice in West Bend. Our family would like to express our appreciation for the great care and comfort they provided in his final days.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to the Schmidt Funeral Home for their compassionate care and guidance during this time.
Messages for the family may be left in an online guestbook at www.schmidtfuneralhome.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald, please visit our floral store.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
4 Entries
Betty Beistle
October 23, 2025
My thoughts and prayers are with the family, especially Patti and Carol. take care and God bless. Tom and Betty Beistle and family.
Greg and Meri Baer
October 20, 2025
We are heartbroken and sad to hear about Don´s passing. Don was a special and great man and he will be missed dearly. My fondest memories of Don was his tremendously kind spirit and his never ending and unselfish desire to want to help out in any way he possibly could. You could always count on Don! The world could certainly use more Don Schachts. Ever since I heard about Don´s passing, I have found myself humming and singing the song, `On Eagles Wings´. Our blessing to the family is that they find great comfort and assurance knowing that Don has now been lifted up and graciously welcomed into our Father´s heavenly kingdom where there is no longer any sorrow or pain. He is now at peace and being forever cared for in the palms of our Father´s hands.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire family during this difficult time.
How you can show support
Send flowers
Consider sending flowers.
Add photos
Share their life with photo memories.
Plant trees
Honor them by planting trees in their memory.
Follow this page
Get email updates whenever changes are made.
Donate in Memory
Make a donation in memory of your loved one.
Share this page
Invite other friends and family to visit the page.
Showing 1 - 4 of 4 results
629 Cedar Street, West Bend, WI 53095
Make a Donation
in Donald Schacht's name
People and places connected with Donald
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
How to support Donald's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreWays to honor Donald Schacht's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
