Donald Pinter Sr.

Donald Pinter Sr., age 75, of Fort Atkinson, Iowa, died on Tuesday, September 22, 2009, at Mercy Medical Center in Mason City, Iowa. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Friday, September 25, 2009, at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Little Turkey, Iowa, with Rev. David Beckman presiding. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Little Turkey, Iowa. Friends may call from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, Chekal Chapel in Fort Atkinson, Iowa, and also on Friday after 1:00 p.m. at the church. Memorials may be given in memory of Don in care of the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue, Decorah, IA, 52101, www.schluterbalikfuneralhome.com Donald Francis Pinter, Sr., was born on January 8, 1934, the son of Frank and Cecelia (Puffer) Pinter, of rural Fort Atkinson, Iowa. Don attended country schools in Chickasaw and Winneshiek Counties. He enlisted in the US Army and served his country from 1955-57. He has since served by being an active member of the Clarence Bily American Legion Post #467 in Spillville, IA. Don married Helen Kruse at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas, on June 14, 1960, and together they have resided on their farm near Fort Atkinson since 1962. Besides farming, Don was employed at John Deere, Waterloo Works for thirty-six years. Don was an avid fisherman, hunter and life-time member of the Experimental Aircraft Association. Every year Don would join his friend, Jack Sabelka frying fish for veterans at the Tomah VA Hospital. Donald is survived by his wife: Helen Pinter, Fort Atkinson, IA. Six children: Joe (Carol) Pinter, Fort Atkinson, IA; Mary Pinter-Stivers, Nashua, IA; Melanie (Steve) Young, West Burlington, IA; Barbara (Denny) Pinter Luster, Janesville, WI; David (Sheila) Pinter, Los Alamitos, CA; and Donald (Stephanie) Pinter, Jr., Wilton, IA. Eighteen grandchildren: Jessica, Jennifer & Laura Hanson, Robert Jr., Jerome and Mary Stivers; David & Mariah Young, Frank & Tina Pinter, Elizabeth & Olivia Luster, Kristine, D.J., James & Nikki Pinter; Neal & Logan Pinter. Two great grandchildren: Haylee & Theresa Hanson. Two sisters-in-law: Mary (Tom) Karau, Marshfield, WI and Anne (Dale) Olson, Anchorage, AK. Two brother-in-law: Don (Karen) Kruse, St. Lucas, IA and Jean (Glenda) Kruse, Oakdale, CA, along with many nieces and nephews. Don was preceded in death by his parents: Frank and Cecelia (Puffer) Pinter. brother-in-law: Jerome (Barb) Kruse and Brother-inlaw James Kruse. His father and mother-in-law: Neal and Melania Kruse.