Donald "Don" Blong

     Donald "Don" Blong, age 86, of St. Lucas, IA died Thursday, July 23, 2015, at Linn Haven Rehab and Healthcare in New Hampton, IA.,      Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 29, 2015, at St. Lukes Catholic Church, 307 East Main Street in St. Lucas, IA, with Rev. Nick March presiding. Burial will be in the St. Luke’s Cemetery.      Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.      Donald William Blong was born on September 7, 1928, the son of John and Elizabeth (Setter) Blong, on a farm northeast of St. Lucas, IA, near the Turkey River. Donald attended St. Luke’s Catholic School where he met his childhood sweetheart Dolores Mitchell. They went to school together until Donald left to serve in the U.S. Navy from 1945 – 1949. Don ran the St. Lucas feed mill with his father upon returning from the Navy. He married Dolores on October 11, 1950, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas. Together they raised 6 children and worked together at the feed mill. They enjoyed travels with the Cargill Company and the many friends they met through those trips. Don retired from the feed mill in 1995. In retirement they enjoyed visiting their children and their families and pets. Don loved riding his lawn tractor around St. Lucas, playing cards and watching birds from their kitchen table. Their individual health care needs required that their last two and a half and three years were spent in New Hampton at Linn Haven Rehab and Healthcare. Dolores passed away on March 2, 2015. She was the love of his life and Don painfully has missed her. May they be together in eternity. He belonged to St. Luke’s Catholic Church and the Aloysius Schmitt America Legion Post #691 in St. Lucas.      Donald is survived by his six children: Trudy (Jerry) Fox, Stillwater, MN, Randy (Mantana) Blong, Chesapeake, VA, Donna (Tim) Munger, Bluegrass, IA, Pat (Doug) Smith, Moline, IL, Lynne (Bruce) Dahlstrom, Baxter, MN, Julie (Paul) Rausch, Austin, MN. Grandchildren: Heidi (Joe) Thompson, Gretchen (Corbin) Fox-Schempp, Barbie Sloan, Jason (Chris) Blong, Jon Munger, Nick Munger, Jacob (fiancé, Macy Weller) Rausch, Alex Rausch and Zach Rausch. Great grandchildren: Stone Thompson, Ivy Thompson, Eve Thompson, Rycher Sloan, Craig Sloan, Michael Sloan and Alina Blong. Sisters: Helen Rothmeyer, Loves Park, IL, Vera Wiest, Fort Atkinson, IA, and Ethel (Dan) Neuzil, Fort Atkinson, IA. One brother: John (Marsha) Blong, Lady Lake, FL. Brothers and sisters-in-law: Marion Thomas, West Des Moines, IA, Joe (Mary Ann) Mitchell, Louisville, KY, Bonnie Mitchell, Charles City, IA, Elaine Mitchell, CO, and Irene Stefanik, Wheeling, IL.      Donald was preceded in death by his wife Dolores on March 2, 2015, His parents: John and Elizabeth (Setter) Blong. Two infant children: Donald Joseph in 1959 and Mary Jo in 1965. Brothers: Herbert and Arthur Blong. Sister: Marcella (George) Nicolaus. Sister and brother-in-laws: Margaret and Marinus Mihm, Bud Mitchell, Alfred Mitchell, Clarence Wiest, Donald Rothmeyer, George Nicolaus and Paul Thomas. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the St. Croix Hospice and the Linn Haven Rehab and Healthcare in New Hampton, IA.