Donald Sivesind

Donald J. Sivesind, 83, of Dorchester, IA, died Thursday, October 30, 2014, at Thornton Manor in Lansing, IA. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 5th, at 11:00 AM at Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, IA, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial with military honors will be at the church cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Tuesday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, IA.

Donald James Sivesind was born on June 14, 1931, in Chariton, IA, the son of Harold and Josephine Etta (Funk) Sivesind. At a very young age he moved with his family to rural Waukon, IA, where he was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church and attended Waukon High School. From 1948 until 1952, Don served in the US Navy as a Gunner's Mate and saw duty in China and Korea. Following his discharge, Don returned to northeast Iowa where on August 15, 1954, he married Mary Jean Tangen at the Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, IA. He worked road construction near Waukon until 1962 when he moved his family to Bakersfield, CA. Don worked in the production of oil in the California oil fields for 30 years. After retiring, he moved back to Dorchester, IA, in 1995 and has lived there ever since.

Don liked being outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was an accomplished woodworker and knowledgeable auto mechanic. He also enjoyed traveling. His family was important to Don; when his kids were young he was very involved with following all of their activities, and later followed his grandchildren's activities.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Mary Jean Sivesind of Dorchester; 3 children: Jeff of Waukon, Jim of Los Angeles, CA, and Pam (Chris) Hillis of Bakersfield, CA; 5 grandchildren: Eric, Nicholas, Lief, and Kristin Sivesind, and Spence Hillis; 3 step-grandchildren: Amber and Greg Linder and Jason Hillis; 2 great-grandchildren: Dyllan and Kaitlynn Sivesind; a brother Gerald "Jerry" (Sue) Sivesind of Waukon; and brothers and sisters-in-law: Gordon and Sandra Tangen and John and JoAnn Tangen, both of Dorchester, and Janet and Dave Starr of Seattle, WA. He is preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers: Kenneth and wife Ruby and Robert Sivesind; and a step-grandson Lance Hillis.