Donald H. Doegnitz

Donald H. Doegnitz, age 84, of Random Lake passed away Saturday, June 3, 2023, at St. Luke’s Hospital after suffering a stroke on May 28.

He was born in Sheboygan, Wis., on July 24, 1938, to the late Harold and Sylvia (Kas) Doegnitz.

He attended St Mary’s Catholic Grade School and graduated from Random Lake High School “on the hill” in 1956.

He worked for Krier Preserving Co. in Random Lake, then enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1957, serving aboard the U.S.S. Fiske from 1959 to 1960.

In May 1960, he began working at the family hardware store, Doegnitz Hardware, with his grandfather and father. He worked there until one week before his passing. He also drove morning school buses from 1966 to 1973.

He was married to Sandra Schiller from Sept. 8, 1962, to October 1978.

On Sept. 11, 1983, he married Beverly (Fresenborg) Stowell at his home.

“Donny,” as his friends and customers called him, was a great businessman and father. He took his family on numerous vacations west of the Mississippi when his children were young.

He loved going out to eat and enjoyed a good martini. He loved football, attending games in Green Bay for 45 years and finally getting his own season tickets at the age of 70.

He spent many Sunday afternoons driving his classic cars, his Eldorado convertible being his favorite. He spent many Saturday nights cheering for his son-in-law Craig at the stock car races. He was a snowmobiler, active in the United Snow Byrds of Random Lake for over 25 years and held the position of president for a few years. He also bowled in leagues from the mid-60s to 1991.

He was a member of St. Mary’s, now Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church, in Random Lake for more than 75 years, being an usher for over 50 of those years.

Don was the best father anyone could have. He was hard working right to the end and spent 63 years greeting customers with a smile and socializing with them whenever he could. He really was the “helpful hardware man” and will be missed by his children, customers, friends, neighbors and the community.

He is survived by his wife Beverly, son Daniel of Random Lake, daughters Melissa (Lannie) Pyfferoen of Baraboo and Amanda (Craig) Priewe of Beaver Dam, stepson Eric Stowell of Random Lake, stepdaughter Karen Stowell of Port Washington, sister Ann (Rick) Zinuticz of Menomonee Falls and cousin Virgie (Leo) Kern of Fort Atkinson, Wis.

He was preceded in death by his paternal great-grandparents William and Minnie, grandparents Ewald and Tena, parents Harold and Sylvia, his maternal great-grandparents Peter and Margaret (Block) Kas, grandparents Nicholas and Mary (King) Kas, aunts and uncles Alphonse Kas, Gertrude and Roland Doherty and Sylvester and Eunice Kas, father-in-law George Schiller, mother-in-law Edna Fresenborg and cousins Hartzell Kas and Father Reginald Foster.

Visitation will be at Suchon Funeral Home, 1317 Hwy. 67, Plymouth, from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 25.

A funeral service will be held Monday morning, June 26, at Our Lady of the Lakes Church, 306 Butler St., Random Lake, with visitation starting at 10 a.m. and a service to follow at 11 a.m. Parish Director Deb Hamm will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established in Donny’s name for the Random Lake Fire Department.

Suchon Funeral Home is assisting the family.

For online condolences, please visit www.suchonfh.com.