Donald Voge

Donald Erwin Voge passed away on January 23, 2018, at the age of 88 years. He was born on March 27, 1929 in the Township of Mayville, Clark County, Wisconsin. Arriving during a blizzard with the snow so deep the fence posts were covered, a close neighbor lady delivered him at his home. His parents were Adolph Edward Voge and Grace (Miller) Voge, who preceded him in death. Donald attended Abbotsford Public Schools and graduated from Abbotsford High School. At the age of 15, he started loading steel for the scrap and started working on cars. His first car he bought from a farmer; it was out in the field and didn't run. After taking it all apart and getting used parts, he surprised his dad getting it started and repainted it himself. He drove it to High School. During the Korean Conflict, he was inducted into the U.S. Army and became a chef, serving in Germany at the airport at Stuttgard. He also taught cooking to soldiers at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal in 1952. He then resumed fixing cars and saved enough money to buy an old house out in the country, which he and his dad took down and had enough lumber to build a three-bedroom ranch house on two lots Don owned in Abbotsford. When it was finished, he married Shirley (Mandel) in 1958. They raised four boys; Pierre, Perri, Kevin, and Kurt, and one daughter, Shelley. Donald bought a number of houses that he fixed up or tore down for the lumber, with the help of his wife, Dad and sons. He was talented in fixing things and remodeling. Donald did professional Auto Body Repair & Painting in Abbotsford for 27 years. He later worked at Liberty Homes and was injured at work in 1986. Retiring early they started going to Florida in the winter - until 2001. They motor-homed for 17 years, and for six years owned a home in Florida. Don and Shirley enjoyed dancing the polka. They liked to travel and went on trips every year. They traveled all over the U.S. and to Hawaii, Germany, Alaska, and the Maritime Providences in Canada. Every year he took the family on a trip until they were grown up and were married. Survivors include his wife, Shirley; sons Pierre, Perri, Kevin (Janis) and Kurt (Denise); daughter Shelley (Ken) Ressel; 12 grandchildren, Laceye (Jordan) Gaither, Nathan Voge and his fiancé Karley Schneider, Theresa (Jonathan) Kaman, Andrea (Luke) Schubring, Wade (Alanah) Ressel, Colt, Sheena, Clint, and Nash Voge, Jordan and Sawyer Voge, and Julia Ressel; three great-grandchildren, Braeden and Carsen Schubring, and Ruth Kaman. He is further survived by his sister, Marian Wibben. He was preceded in death by his sister Irene (Vincent) Frane and brother Edward Voge. Private Memorial Services will be held at Brainard Funeral Home - Everest Chapel, who is assisting the family with arrangements.