Donald D. Hart

Donald D. Hart, age 85, of Decorah, IA, died peacefully at his daughter’s home in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Friday, March 8, 2013. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, March 16, 2013 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah with Rev. Phillip Gibbs officiating. Inurnment will be in St. Benedict Catholic Cemetery in Decorah following the Memorial Mass. A luncheon will follow immediately after the Memorial Mass. Visitation will begin at 12:00 P.M. Saturday, March 16, 2013 at St. Benedict Catholic Church, one hour before services. Donald “Don” Dean Hart was born on July 12, 1927 in Center, Nebraska, to Charles C. and Lydia M. (LaFranz) Hart. He graduated from Tech High School in St. Cloud, MN in 1944. He then attended and graduated from Drews Business College in St. Cloud, MN. Don served in the Navy from June 8, 1945 to July 29, 1946. He was united in marriage to Lucille M. Schmitz on January 31, 1951 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St Cloud, Minnesota. To this union, eight children were born: Deborah, Larry, Sandra, Patricia, Nancy, Leann, Linda and Lanny. Don and Lucille spent the early years of their married life in Minnesota and North Dakota. Don’s life-long passion was in the baking business. Prior to moving his family to Decorah, Iowa in 1966 purchasing the Decorah Bakery, renaming it Hart’s Quality Bakery, he managed Cox’s Bakery in St. Cloud, MN, Brainerd, MN and Minot, ND and then Dahl’s Super Value bakery in Fargo, ND. The couple owned and operated their bakery for 31 years before selling the business and retiring in 1997. Don semi-retired from the bakery in 1979 and worked for several years as a food inspector for the State of Iowa. Don was a member of St. Benedict Catholic Church. He was a proud and dedicated husband and father. He also enjoyed golf and playing cards and spending time with his family. Survivors include eight children: Deborah (Howard) Fischer of West Des Moines, IA, Larry Hart of West Des Moines, Sandra (Tim) Anderson of Prescott AZ, Patricia (John) Ryan of Eagan, MN, Nancy (Jim) Manning of Dunedin, FL, Leann (Ron) Abraham of Cedar Falls, IA, Linda Luedtke of Ankeny, IA and Lanny (Lisa) Hart of Altoona, IA; nineteen grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; sister, Irene (Myron) Liebman of Miami, FL, brother Dale Hart of Owatonna, MN; eight brothers and sisters-in-law: Ernie (Barb) Schmitz of Sergeant Bluff, IA, Virginia Pfannenstein of St. Joseph, MN, Angie Gillitzer of Waite Park, MN, Lillian Notsch of Hines, MN, Donald (Luella) Schmitz of Cottage Grove, MN, Alcuin Schmitz of Richmond, MN, Doris (Jack) Holthaus of St. Martin, MN, Floribert (Rose) Schmitz of Roscoe, MN, (Arlene) Schmitz of St. Joseph, MN, and (Shirley) Hart of Tucson, AZ. Don is preceded in death by his parents, wife Lucille on November 30, 2005, brother Wayne, son-in-law Ken Luedtke, brothers-in-law Walter Schmitz, Aloys Pfannenstein, Delbert Gillitzer and Elmer Notsch and sisters-in-law Donna Hart and Jenny Schmitz. Memorials may be directed to Cedar Valley Hospice, 2101 Kimball Ave., Ste 401, Waterloo, IA 50702 or St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 W. Main St., Decorah, IA 52101