Donald was born on September 20, 1949 in Hastings Minnesota; the son of John Capatske and Mary Ellen Brunner. He was raised in Prescott and graduated from Prescott High School. Shortly after graduation, he was united in marriage to Ruth Ellen Pechacek at Saint Mary’s Big River Catholic Church in rural River Falls. This union would welcome into the world a daughter and two sons. Donald worked a short time at the Armour packing plant in South St. Paul, MN before beginning a career at Jaques Seeds in Prescott. Donald worked as a truck driver loading and delivering seed to many dealers throughout Northwest Wisconsin and Southeast Minnesota. He also kept the seed inventory up-to-date. Additionally, Don and Ruth sold Jaques seeds throughout Pierce County, WI.
One of his loves was listening to classic rock on KQRS. Donald and Ruth were able to attend a Rolling Stones concert in 2006 which was a memory he held with him since he lost Ruth shortly thereafter. He enjoyed keeping his garden up-to-date and selling his pumpkins and corn in the community. His entrepreneurship did not end there. He was well-known as the can guy traveling to his favorite stops collecting aluminum cans. As much as he liked to get a nice bag of cans, he enjoyed the fellowship and conversations with the friends at these stops even more. He always enjoyed driving around the countryside and was quick to point out places he sold seed, new buildings, and new farm equipment. These trips were often made better if they ended at the Dairy Queen for a Peanut Buster Parfait. He appreciated his Sunday morning visitors which came faithfully to his assisted living facility to share their knowledge with him.
As much as he was loved by the community, his children and grandchildren greatly looked up to him. He loved taking them to the county fair where he was active in 4-H and enjoyed watching them display their hard work in the cattle show ring, poultry barn, vegetable displays, and all the other projects they were involved in.
Donald will live on in the hearts of his daughter Linda (Scott) Donnelly and their children Derek, Alex, and Hunter; his son David (Krista) Capatske and their children Adam and Cora; his son Jason (Katie Dillon) Capatske; and his sister-in-law Shirley Deiss.
His parents, wife Ruth; and brother-in-law Bill Deiss proceeded him in death.
The family would like to thank the many caretakers that touched Don throughout his life, especially the workers at Comforts of Home in River Falls, WI, St Croix Hospice, and the county health care workers.
Mass of Christian burial for Donald will be 12 PM, Friday, July 8, 2022, at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic church in Ellsworth, WI. CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE STREAM. Visitation will be on Thursday, July 7, 2022, from 4 PM to 8 PM at the O’Connell Family Funeral Homes Cremation Services in Ellsworth, WI as well as two hours prior to the mass at church on Friday. Memorials are preferred to the discretion of the family. Funeral services have been entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Ellsworth.
Services are entrusted the O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ellsworth, www.oconnellfuneralservices.com, 715-273-4421
