Don Baerenwald

Don Duane Baerenwald was born on March 19, 1933 in Rolston, IA, the son of Paul Eric and Freda Catherine (Brandt) Baerenwald. He was baptized on April 8, 1943 and confirmed in the Christian faith on June 20, 1947 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Sibley IA. Don attended school in Little Rock, IA and Willmar Vocational ? Technical College. On Nov. 27, 1954, he was united in marriage to Marilyn Alice Saltee in Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM. Don proudly served his country in the United States Air Force, receiving his honorable discharge in 1956. Don worked as a semi truck driver for many years and was also employed by Chippewa County. He was a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Montevideo and was also a member of the Montevideo American Legion and the Veteran's of Foreign Wars. He was a devoted husband and loved his family. His greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren. Don also enjoyed fishing, camping, boating, bird watching and traveling. He held dearly his "extended" family?, the friends and neighbors of the 12th Street Gang. While in the loving presence of his family, Don was called peacefully from this earth on Friday Jan. 30, 2009, while a resident of Luther Haven Nursing Home. He was 75 years of age. Surviving family include his wife Marilyn of Montevideo, MN; his son Kim of Montevideo, MN; his daughters Tamara (& Gregg) Kelly of Kankakee, IL, Vicki Schlenner of Stewart, MN and Brenda (& David) DeJong of Montevideo, MN; his grandchildren- Emily Baerenwald of St. Cloud, MN, Mitchell & Hannah Kelly both of Kankakee, Il, Shelby & Courtney Schlenner and their father Richard Schlenner of Stewart, MN and Dennis & Dutch DeJong both of Montevideo, MN; a special niece- Bobbie (& Tom) Kullas of Elk River, MN; his sister Glenda (& Trav) Potter of Sheldon, IA; sisters-in- law Margaret Saltee, Mavis Leese and Arlene Norman; brothers-in-law Bud (& Jean) Hansen and Bob (& Jan) Tesch. Preceding Don in death were his parents, an infant sister and one brother- Dennis.