Donald Lee Shelton

Donald L. Shelton, 69, of Waukon, IA, died Tuesday, August 13, 2013, at Mayo Health Franciscan Healthcare in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 17th, at 11:00 AM at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Friday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Donald Lee Shelton was born on July 11, 1944 in Livonia, MO, the son of Wayne and Carmineita (Hogg) Shelton. When he was one, the family moved to Ottumwa, IA where Don grew up and graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1962. He attended Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in Kirksville, MO where he received a BA in economics in 1966. On June 25, 1966 he married Judi Hargrave in St. Louis, MO. They spent their first summer in Austin, MN where Don worked at the country club. That fall they moved to Blooming Prairie, MN where Don began a 20 year career at the local high school teaching economics, coaching the golf team, and representing the teachers union. In the summers he was the club pro at the Blooming Prairie Country Club which he and Judi managed. In 1988 Don moved to Waukon, IA, where the family started JaDecc'S Computer Center. The business later transitioned to a US Cellular authorized dealership.

Don was a member and former president of the Waukon Golf and Country Club. He enjoyed golf, fishing, and following the Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Vikings and was a long-time devoted fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. Throughout Don's life he enjoyed working with and being around people, but none were more special than his family. He loved to follow his kids and now his grandkids activities and gladly made his house the hub of family activity. He especially looked forward to hosting Memorial Day and Labor Day gatherings. During the past year Don had rekindled a relationship with his former college sweetheart, Catherine Dannenfeldt, and was enjoying her becoming a part of his family.

Survivors include his father Wayne Shelton of Sioux Falls, SD; his fiancée (although they were already married in their hearts) Catherine Dannenfeldt; his children: Andrea Shelton of La Crosse, WI, Corey (Trish) Shelton and Chris (Lisa) Shelton, both of Waukon, and Eric (Jen) Shelton of Decorah, IA; 11 grandchildren: Trey, Roman, Marissa, Caitlin, Abby, Emma, Eben, Lexi, Elle, Drake, and Avery; his sister Judy (Steve) Kurth of Waterville, IA and their children Blaine (Crystal), Ross, and Don's Goddaughter Brooke (Jason); and 3 brothers-in-law: Dave Hargrave of Mill Valley, CA, Dick (Linda) Hargrave of Las Vegas, NV, and Jimmy Hargrave of Loveland, CO. He is preceded in death by his mother Carmineita; his wife Judi, who died in 2002; his father and mother-in-law Ralph and Irene Hargrave; and a sister-in-law Toni Hargrave.

Honorary casketbearers are Elmer Alderdyce, Bill Kerndt, Roger Sorenson, Harold Ulrich, and Ken West. Casketbearers are Corey, Chris, and Eric Shelton and Steve, Blaine, and Ross Kurth.