Donald L. Osterhaus

Donald Ludwig Osterhaus, 88, died on July 5, 2022 unexpectedly in a car accident.  He was born on May 4, 1934, to Joseph H. & Rose (Wegmann) Osterhaus in Bloomington, WI.  Don served two years in the Army and spent one year of duty in Korea.  When returning from service, he met Mary Alice McCarthy at a dance in Wauzeka, Wisconsin.  Don married Mary Alice on September 8, 1958 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wauzeka, WI and lived the rest of his life in Prairie du Chien.

Don worked at and eventually managed the FS Mill in Prairie du Chien.  He worked as a Regional Dairy Feed Sales Manager for FS (Growmark) until his retirement.  He then worked part-time at Wal-Mart assembling bicycles and grills.

Don was an avid baseball player, coach & fan.  He played on the Wyalusing State Park Ball Team and on a traveling ball team with the Army.  Don coached Prairie Youth baseball and 4-H Softball for many years.  In his later years, he groomed fields and sold raffle tickets for Legion Baseball and traveled far and wide to watch his grandchildren play baseball and softball or participate in various activities.  He liked to catch his limit of fish, completed many woodworking projects and was active in St. Gabriel’s Church and School activities for many, many years.

Don is survived by his wife Mary of 63 years and six children: Diane (Tom) of Appleton, John (Tina) of Eastman, David of Brookfield, Rodney (Lori) of Dalton, Greg (Stephanie) Burnsville, MN, Brian (Emily) of Oregon, 19 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three brothers, Carl (Linda) of Dickeyville, Paul (Charlene) of Hazel Green & Joe (Leona) of Ocala, FL and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by a son, Robert (Joanne) of Burnsville, MN; a brother, Roger of Bloomington; a sister Myrt Christianson of Lancaster, his parents, and an infant brother.

The family asks that memorials be given to St. Feriole Island Gardens, PDC High School Athletics, or Prairie Catholic Schools.

A Memorial Mass of Resurrection will be Monday, August 8, 2022, at 11:00 A.M. at St. Gabriel’s Church of the Holy Family Parish, Msgr. Charles Stoetzel officiating with inurnment in the Calvary Cemetery, both in Prairie du Chien. Friends may call at the Garrity Funeral Home on Sunday, August 7, 2022, from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M and at the church an hour prior to mass. Military honors will be accorded graveside in the Calvary Cemetery by the Prairie du Chien Honor Guard.   

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