Donald D. Stoddard

MONONA - Donald Duane Stoddard, 86, retired Madison educator, went home to be with our Lord on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. He was born on Jan. 22, 1935, in Richland Center, Wis., the son of Donald V. and Violet (Nachreiner) Stoddard. After divorcing, Violet married Gerald “Bill” Nelson, the man Don knew as “Dad” his entire life. Don attended school in Ithaca, Wis., where he fell in love with his 2nd grade teacher, Anna Marie Schauf. He went on to earn his high school diploma from Richland Center High School, his BS in Education from UW-LaCrosse, and his MS in Education from UW-Madison. He spent half his life as an educator. He started teaching at Adams Elementary School in Janesville, then taught at Marquette Elementary School and Spring Harbor Elementary School in Madison. Don became a principal and served the MMSD at Badger Elementary School, Franklin Elementary School, Cherokee Middle School, Van Hise Middle School, and Mendota Elementary School. After retiring in 1994, he was asked to come back as an interim principal at Mendota Elementary School, and the following year he was asked to be an interim principal at Lakeview Elementary School. Retirement was still on hold when he was asked by the Ithaca school board president if he could fill in as principal for a few months for their K-12 school. He spent two years as an interim principal in the Ithaca School District. Being back where he had spent his youth was a unique and fulfilling experience. Don loved living at “The Land,” a house he had built on ancestral land near Ithaca, while working there. “The Land” quickly became a favorite place to spend time with family. In 1956, while at UW-LaCrosse, Don met his future wife on the football field...in the marching band. Don played the trombone and Nancy played the tenor sax. They stood next to each other in formation. Don and Nancy Chitwood were married on Dec. 31, 1958, in Soldier’s Grove, Wis. They were married 62 years, 8 months, and 15 days. Don had many talents...other than being an educator. He loved music. He played the piano and the trombone. He fixed all kinds of things...at home and at school. He repaired, remodeled, built and rebuilt. He was a jack of all trades. He told us, as his mother had told him, “If you can read, you can do anything.” He was the perfect example of that. He was skilled in working on cars and was especially proud of his rebuilt 1959 MGA. A highlight for him was driving his 1955 MGTF on a tour of England, then visiting Stina’s (our exchange student) family in Sweden as well as Mia’s (another exchange student) family. He loved to camp and to travel. He and Nancy enjoyed many winters in Florida while in their motorhome. They loved taking the family to Disney…”glamping” at Fort Wilderness Campground. Don also had a passion for cameras and the process of developing his own pictures. He was very proud of his vintage camera collection. He’s taken so many pictures over the years and we are so grateful to have them. Don loved nature. He loved the outdoors. He loved to hunt and hike and garden. He liked to dabble in wine making and beer brewing. His initiation of making homemade pizza on Sunday nights became a tradition in the family. He was actively involved with the MMSD school forest and assisted in rebuilding the boardwalk at Cherokee Marsh that was used for outdoor education. Don also researched his genealogy all the way back to Europe in the 1600’s. He created quite the family tree. Don enjoyed reading about many subjects. Most recently, he found comfort in poetry and in reading books by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He particularly enjoyed reading The Cost of Discipleship. Don was an active member at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Monona serving on the church council and teaching Sunday School, participating in studies, outreach, and social activities. His commitment to serving others was also evident in his 40+ years with the Madison East Kiwanis Club. He delighted in the camaraderie with a purpose. Don was a wonderful storyteller. He’s written numerous stories from his childhood...always planning to put them into a book. He continued to share his stories with all who would listen. He had an engaging way with words and a beautiful smile. He was also full of quick wit and a touch of sarcasm. Don was a kind and generous man, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. He loved dearly and was dearly loved. Never to be forgotten. Don is survived by his wife, Nancy; sons, Jeffrey (Robin) Stoddard of Richland Center and Jerald (Becky) Stoddard of Sun Prairie, and daughter, Jennifer (Pete) Boll of Cottage Grove; seven grandchildren, Shellane (Justin) Euler, Curtis (Ashley) Stoddard, Derek Stoddard, Rachel Stoddard, Cory Stoddard, Ryan Boll and Eric Boll; seven great-grandchildren, Levi, Alexa, Skylar, and Emmett Euler, Amelia and Colt Stoddard, and Violet Stoddard; sister, Lynette Bloom of Minnesota; brother, Paul (Sharon) Nelson of Cottage Grove; and brother, Winston (Sandra) Stoddard of Green Bay. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, James Stoddard of Tampa; and brother-in-law, Walter Bloom of Minnesota. Funeral services will be held at ST. STEPHEN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5700 Pheasant Hill Road, Monona, at 11 a.m., on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday. Memorials may be made to St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church or Madison East Kiwanis Foundation designated for scholarships. Mail to Madison East Kiwanis 6303 Maywick Madison, 53718. Online condolences may be made to www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420