1918
Donald
2011
Donald Simon
May 17, 1918 — January 21, 2011
Donald Simon, age 92, of Perham, MN, died Friday, January 21, 2011, at the Perham Memorial Hospital.
Don was born May 17, 1918, in Mapleton, MN, the son of the late Oscar A. and Gertrude (Rue) Simon. In 1923 the family moved to Gorman Township where they made their living farming.
On May 22, 1937, Don married Mary Ann "Biddy" Altstadt of Perham. After two children and six years of marriage, Don got the call to join the Navy. He signed up in Minneapolis in June 1943 with the US Navy Construction Battalion with his rank being MM1C. Don received the Bronze Star for the Invasion of the Marshall Islands and was honorably discharged in Minneapolis in December 1945.
Don and Biddy moved to Maryland in June 1959 after he spent many years of hard work on the roads of Minnesota as well as various other jobs. While in Maryland, Don owned his own excavating company known as Don "DJ" Simon Excavating Company. He worked for many contractors and enjoyed this work until an earlier injury to his knee (while working on road machinery in MN) forced him to retire. In 2005 they moved back home to Perham.
Don ("Punca" as he was affectionately called by his children and grandchildren) was proud of his patriotism and believed strongly in supporting our country's military. He valued his friends from both his military experience and from his personal life. He was known for his green thumb and family and friends always looked forward to enjoying the fresh vegetables of the season whenever they had the pleasure to visit (or grab some to take home!)
Don is survived by three daughters, Beverly (Al) Stigman, Perham, MN; Bonita (Darrell) Price, Coral Springs, FL; and Dorothy (Ed) Bellafiore, Price Frederick, MD; a brother, R. Adm. (Ret) Roger O. Simon (Phyllis Antonsen), Myrtle Beach, SC; nine grandchildren, Lynn (Mike) Bleichner, Luan (Scott) Larson, Jim (Stacey) Stigman, Sam (Stephanie) Stigman, Kelly (Greg) Nichols, John (Ann) Dyson, Jennifer Price, Josh (Tiffany) Price, Ed (Chrissy) Bellafiore; nineteen great grandchildren; and many very special nieces, nephews, dear relatives and friends.
Preceding Don in death are his parents; dear wife, Mary Ann; an only son, Kenneth J. Simon; a brother, Harland Simon; and a sister, Bernell F. Scott.
Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Church Building Fund or the ITOW Museum, both of Perham.
Don was born May 17, 1918, in Mapleton, MN, the son of the late Oscar A. and Gertrude (Rue) Simon. In 1923 the family moved to Gorman Township where they made their living farming.
On May 22, 1937, Don married Mary Ann "Biddy" Altstadt of Perham. After two children and six years of marriage, Don got the call to join the Navy. He signed up in Minneapolis in June 1943 with the US Navy Construction Battalion with his rank being MM1C. Don received the Bronze Star for the Invasion of the Marshall Islands and was honorably discharged in Minneapolis in December 1945.
Don and Biddy moved to Maryland in June 1959 after he spent many years of hard work on the roads of Minnesota as well as various other jobs. While in Maryland, Don owned his own excavating company known as Don "DJ" Simon Excavating Company. He worked for many contractors and enjoyed this work until an earlier injury to his knee (while working on road machinery in MN) forced him to retire. In 2005 they moved back home to Perham.
Don ("Punca" as he was affectionately called by his children and grandchildren) was proud of his patriotism and believed strongly in supporting our country's military. He valued his friends from both his military experience and from his personal life. He was known for his green thumb and family and friends always looked forward to enjoying the fresh vegetables of the season whenever they had the pleasure to visit (or grab some to take home!)
Don is survived by three daughters, Beverly (Al) Stigman, Perham, MN; Bonita (Darrell) Price, Coral Springs, FL; and Dorothy (Ed) Bellafiore, Price Frederick, MD; a brother, R. Adm. (Ret) Roger O. Simon (Phyllis Antonsen), Myrtle Beach, SC; nine grandchildren, Lynn (Mike) Bleichner, Luan (Scott) Larson, Jim (Stacey) Stigman, Sam (Stephanie) Stigman, Kelly (Greg) Nichols, John (Ann) Dyson, Jennifer Price, Josh (Tiffany) Price, Ed (Chrissy) Bellafiore; nineteen great grandchildren; and many very special nieces, nephews, dear relatives and friends.
Preceding Don in death are his parents; dear wife, Mary Ann; an only son, Kenneth J. Simon; a brother, Harland Simon; and a sister, Bernell F. Scott.
Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Church Building Fund or the ITOW Museum, both of Perham.
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