Donald E. “Donnie” Scholl, age 66 of Hudson, died peacefully Saturday April 30th at his residence after a courageous battle with cancer. Don was born on December 28, 1944 in Hudson, Wisconsin and was a lifelong Hudson resident. He was the son of Clifford and Agnes (Knecht) Scholl. He attended St. Patrick’s Parochial School and Hudson High School prior to attending the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. On December 23, 1967, he was united in marriage to his best friend and soulmate, Jean Susan Moen, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. This union would be further blessed with two sons, Brian and Steven.

The majority of Don’s career was spent selling processing equipment to the food and dairy industry. He was employed by several companies, with Alfa Laval being the major one. He loved the social aspect of his career, and always enjoyed meeting new people as part of his work.

Don was a real ‘people person’, always a true optimist and someone who saw the glass as half-full. His sense of humor and positive demeanor lit up the room and made those around him feel better. He was always willing to lend a hand to someone who needed it. He was one of the founders of a local group of men who would gather for their morning cup of coffee over the years at various restaurants, and many of them were the recipients of Don’s elaborate pranks and jokes.

He loved the St. Croix River and he and Jean spent many years cruising the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers with their fellow boat lovers. In retirement he began woodworking, building various pieces of furniture for relatives and friends. He also remodeled older homes and liked the challenges of solving problems connected with improving them. His son, Steve, helped when he could, and working with Steve was something he truly enjoyed.

His love in life, above all else, was spending time with his family — whether traveling with Jean to such places as Alaska, Utah, Arizona and Florida, or spending time with his sons and their families. He lived by the motto “Family Comes First”. He took great pride in watching his sons’ careers blossom and seeing them flourish as parents themselves. Most recently, his granddaughters were pure joy to him (and vice versa!) and he and Jean spent as much time as they could with them.

Don is survived by Jean, his wife of 43 years; sons Steve (Jana) and their children Calen and Kacey of Zumbrota, MN, and Brian (Wendy Reilly) and their daughter Minna of Darien, CT; sister Margaret (James) Woodruff of Hudson; aunt Lavon (Joe) Rooney of Dougherty, IA; sisters/brother-in-law Patricia (Robert) Rolfe of Sun City West, AZ, Sally Swanson of Stillwater, MN, Bernie Moen of St. Paul Park, MN; as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Clifford and Agnes (Knecht) Scholl, in-laws Clarence and Floy Moen, sister Dorothy Callanan, and brothers/sister-in laws Richard Moen, Mary Larson, James Moen, David Swanson, and nephew Scott Swanson.

Mass of Christian Burial is at 11 am Thursday May 5th at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with Fr. Gene Murphy officiating. Visitation is on Wednesday from 4 to 7 pm with a prayer service at 7 pm at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and one hour prior to the mass at church on Thursday. Burial will be in the Willow River Cemetery in Hudson with nephews John Woodruff, Matthew Woodruff, Richard Moen, Robert Moen, Mark Larson, and Tony Scherer being casketbearers. Memorials are preferred. Funeral services have been entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson.