Donald Gordon Linstroth

OREGON-Donald Linstroth, age 75, of Oregon, passed away on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, at UW Hospital after a hard-fought battle with multiple myeloma.  He was born on March 22, 1942, in Racine, the son of Robert and Clarice (Gagnon) Linstroth.  Don proudly served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany.  He married his high school sweetheart, Sandra Caron on July 10, 1965. Don served as an indentured apprentice in painting and decorating with Potente Decorating.  He was a lifetime member of the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades. Don later became a circuit instructor teaching painting and decorating at eight technical schools throughout Wisconsin, including instructing inmates at Waupun Correctional.  He then advanced his career to MATC as an Apprenticeship Chair later occupying duo roles of Campus Administrator and Apprenticeship Chair.  He would remain there for 24 years until his retirement.  Don lived life to the fullest.  He loved camping and boating with his family, biking and hiking trips with a particular love for the National Parks.  Don also took pride in tending to his apple orchard and garden. He and his beloved “bride” traveled to Scandinavia, Paris, Provence, Alaska and yearly to Mexico with family.  As Don talked of his travels to friends and family it was always punctuated in his memory of the “food”.  His grandchildren were involved in many sporting and musical events which Donald and Sandra attended with joy and pride.   Don is survived his wife, Sandra; daughters, Lori Linstroth, Lisa Martin, Leslie (Michael) Gerbitz and Lizabeth (Greg) Peterson; 11 grandchildren, Kasey (Jason) Miller, Jacob D. Gothard, Trey Hamilton, Hannah Gothard, Cole Martin, Logan Gerbitz, Cade Martin, Benjamin Gerbitz, Madeline Peterson, Spencer Peterson and Joseph Gerbitz; four great-granddaughters, Ava, Brooklyn, Harley and Langley; siblings, Daniel Linstroth, Darlene Linstroth, Delores Wytonic, Robert Linstroth, Denise Jones, Diane DeFatte, Debra Linstroth, Dale Linstroth, and Dwayne Linstroth. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sisters, Donna and Deana Linstroth.  Funeral services will be held at ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 625 E. Netherwood Street, Oregon, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON OREGON FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, and also at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday.  Memorials may be made to St John’s Lutheran Church, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation or National Parks Conservation Association.