Donald E. Fechner

Donald E. Fechner

October 11, 1931 - February 16, 2022

Send Flowers

Obituary

MADISON - Donald E. Fechner, age 90, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, at William S. Middleton Memorial VA Hospital. He was born on Oct. 11, 1931, in Kenosha, Wis., the son of Clarence and Mamie (Olson) Fechner.  


Donny graduated from Madison West High School before attending Milton College, where he earned his bachelor's degree. He proudly served his country, in the U.S. Army, during the Korean War. Donny was the recipient of two Purple Hearts. He was employed as an auditor and traveled throughout the U.S. and Canada in one of his corvettes. He was affectionately known on the East Coast as "Don Corvette."  He was an accumulator of many items, but most fondly, baseball cards, records, and golf clubs. He loved to share his adventures and stories, especially when he could teach something to his grand nieces. He truly was one of a kind and will be deeply missed by his family and friends.


Donald is survived by his nephews, Thomas “Tommy” (Annette) Fechner, Dan and John; and nieces, Joy (Mark) Todd, Jill, Rebecca, Bonnie, and Debra. He is further survived by special friends and neighbors, Jeff, Tom, Scotty, Susan, Brent, Mike, Bre, and the gang at Diggers. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Kenny and Jerry.


A Celebration of Life will be held at VFW POST 7591, 301 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison WI 53716, on Sunday, April 24, 2022 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Donny will have the honor of burial in Arlington National Veteran's Cemetery.


Memorials may be made to any veteran cause.


Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.


Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761

Events

24
Visitation
Sun Apr 24, 2022 @ 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM CDT
VFW Post 7591 • 301 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison, WI 53716
Get Directions

Photos

Add photos
of Donald
No photos of Donald have been shared yet.

Memories

Add a memory of
Donald
S
Susan
Other •
I will miss you, Don. You made the most of your life. And now you are on to your next adventure!
MM
Mary Jane Melvin
Other •
I have known Donnie more years than I care to share..as I grew up here in the Neighborhood with his brothers and him…He was a neighbor and friend..a Veteran ..and like many of them didn’t share with all his experiences. An interesting person..he lived his life his way…rest in peace Donnie..
JM
Jeff melvin
Other •
Having grown up on the same block my whole life Donnie has always been my neighbor, I can still see his ac cobra and mako shark Corvette sitting in the driveway covered with tarps,I was luckily enough to get to know him much better the last years of his life,and what a life it was,traveling across America in his many corvettes,getting kicked out of Canada and more. Thanks for sharing your life I know your driving a red Corvette with the top down, someday you can give me a ride, till then godspeed Don.....jeff
BC
Bob Schweitzer, CFO
Other •
On behalf of the employees at Alliance for Audited Media (formerly Audit Bureau of Circulations), I would like to offer our condolences on Don's passing. As a traveling auditor for 13 years with ABC, Don played an important part in our long history. May you be comforted by good memories!
BG
Bonnie Goins
Other •
Uncle Donny was his own dog. He lived life his way. We couldn't always convince him to come to family events and holidays, but when we did, we always had fun. He was generous, kind and had one of those hearty Fechner laughs. I'll miss him a ton and I promise to tell his stories when we all get together!

Share memorial