Donald Le Roy Wiswell

Wiswell, Donald Le Roy MONONA / ELKHORN / WHITEWATER / EVANSVILLE - Donald "Don" Leroy Wiswell, age 79 of Monona, passed away Friday evening, Oct. 13, 2006, at the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center in Fitchburg. He was born on Feb. 20, 1927, in Elkhorn, the son of Phillip Stephen Wiswell, Jr., of Elkhorn, and Nellie Lena Bastheimer of Blue Mounds. Donald, the sixth of seven siblings, grew up in Whitewater; neighbors with singer, Kate Smith "God Bless America", later moving to Evansville. Surrounded by love after the untimely death of his mother on March 7, 1940, the family eventually moved to Madisons Sherman Avenue neighborhood. By Sept. 1941, he attended Central High, then East High School, and delivered for Sherman Avenue Grocery to area neighbors including the Governor of Wisconsin. In Feb. 1945, just prior to graduation he and several friends, all part of "Americas greatest generation," joined the U.S. Coast Guard, serving until June 1946. Commander Jack Dempsey, world heavy weight boxing champion, served as his boot camp PE instructor. Seaman First Class Wiswell served aboard the USCGC Taney, then under naval command, on coastal duty in the Atlantic Theater. Upon discharge, receiving the American Area Campaign Ribbon and Victory Medal World War II and $100 mustering out pay, East High School diploma in hand, Don attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1947-1948 majoring in mechanical engineering, while working at Ohio Medical. Living on Dayton Street, he began work as a salesman for Red Dot Potato Chip Co. in June 1948. Don married Violet "Vi" Marie Taylor born on July 8, 1928, north of Briggsville, at New Haven Township, Adams County on Nov. 26, 1949, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison. The newlyweds lived on Center Avenue in Madison, moving briefly to Rockford, Ill., with Red Dot, then back to Madisons Eastside where they lived on Fair Oaks Avenue and Upham St. They purchased a Pure Oil service station on East Washington Avenue, at the Yahara River bridge in 1952. Finally, in 1957, Don and Vi built a home in the booming Village of Monona. In 1959, he began a long career as a debit sales and securities agent, later manager, with Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. The family joined Monona United Methodist Church. Life also centered around his work, immediate and large extended family, their yard, scouting and youth sports. His young family liked dining out, listening to live music, watching the 4th of July fireworks from their backyard on Winnequah Park, boating, camping, traveling and other pastimes. He was also an active member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Eagles Club, and Masonic Lodge. Just prior to retirement, he worked for the Wisconsin State Patrol radio shop in Madison. In his retirement years, he also enjoyed his six grand children, visiting with his close friends, his home, fixing lawnmowers for the neighborhood, traveling, visiting HoChunk, and freely dispensing regular and sage advice to his family, friends and neighbors. Don is survived by his son, Jeffrey Lynn, Sr., (Tammy Ann Driscoll); grandsons, Second Lt. Jeffrey Lynn, Jr., WIARNG, Christopher Daniel, and Matthew Taylor; son, Steven Douglas all of Monona; daughter, Cheryl Marie (Casey Duffey); and granddaughters, Kathryn Martha and Elizabeth Marie of McFarland; son, Michael Scott (Jean Marie Sharp); granddaughter, Sunnie Danielle; and step-grandchildren, Samantha and Mitchell Maier of West Madison. He is also survived by his sisters, Winifred Louise Smith of Lombard, Ill., Dorothy Jennette Paun of Schererville, Ind.; brother, Harry Delorn Wiswell (Mae Coleman) of East Dundee, Ill.; his sister-in-law, Irene Lorenz Wiswell of San Diego, Calif.; his wifes sister, Vera May Smith of Exten, Pa.; and many cousins, nephews, nieces, and close personal friends.Don was preceded in death by his loving wife, Vi on May 3, 2004. Also preceding him were his father; mother; and stepmother, Jean O. Trimm of Trempealeau County; brother, Phillip G.A. Wiswell (Irene); sisters, Wilma M. (William L. Adams), Phyllis Arlene (Ronald J. Krantz); brothers-in-law, Dale M. Smith and Joseph Paun; his wifes sisters, Elizabeth Eva (Roy Cleary), Acelia Walsh (Albert Wedde), Helen Dorothy (Gilbert Cleary), and Goldie Leona (Fred Thomas); and brother-in law, Tyler Smith. The family wishes to thank Dr. Albert Musa of Dean East Medical Center and staff at the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center for their tender care in his long brave battle with bone cancer. He was previously a survivor of prostate and skin cancer several years ago. Visitation will be held Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2006, from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive. The Rev. Milton Ford will conduct the funeral service at 11 am Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2006, at MONONA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 606 Nichols Road. Burial will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park, Monona, immediately after the service.In lieu of flowers, memorials can be dedicated to the new Dane County-Monona Veterans Memorial at Ahuska Park or the new Winnequah Park Shelter House No. 3. Please note with donation that funds are dedicated to the Donald L. Wiswell Memorial. "Semper Paratus" (Always Ready) U.S. Coast Guard Motto Hats Off! Hats Off! Along the street there comes a blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums, a flash of color beneath the sky. Hats off! The colors before us fly, but more than the flag is passing by, days of plenty and years of peace, march of a strong lands swift increase, equal justice, right, and law, Stately honor and reverend awe, sign of a nation, great and strong, toward her people from foreign wrong, pride and glory and honor, all live in the colors to stand or fall. Hats off! Along the street there comes a blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums, and loyal hearts are beating high, Hats Off! The Flag is passing by! (Henry Holcomb Bennett).