Donald Mack

Donald “Don” Fredric Mack (Maack) , age 83, of Grantsburg, died at Continuing Care Center in the early morning hours of October 12, 2017, due to complications of diabetes and dementia, surrounded by family. He is preceded in death by his cherished wife, Elsie (Ernst) in 2006; parents, Rudolph and Hannah (Lindgren) Maack; his brother, Dennis Mack; sister, Phyllis (Maack) Edin; and most of his wife Elsie’s siblings; his niece, Debra Blair; nephew, Dallas Tester; one great nephew; along with too many friends. He is survived by his sister, Elsie (Mack) Tester; his daughters: Joan (Dale) Madsen Kirchner, Rhonda Mack, Lona Mack, Candy (Steve Larson) Mack, Jill Mack and Kari (Mark) Schwartzbauer; sons, Ron (Angie) Mack and Bradford Mack; grandchildren and great grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Marge Zibell; nieces, nephews and many friends. Don was born in Atlas, while his parents lived with his mother’s parents. They were soon able to buy their own farm, on the Trade River, where he spent his childhood and he said it was never too hot to play ball. He went to the “cities” to make his way in the world when he was 17. He landed a job driving truck for a laundry in Minneapolis. He joined the Army in 1957 and was stationed in Germany for two years. After he was honorably discharged, he worked as a taxi driver in Minneapolis, and met his wife, Elsie, through her brothers. In 1960, they moved to Grantsburg and he found work as an Upholster at Northern Manufacturing. Don excelled at spacial reasoning and was soon helping to develop the patterns used to make furniture. When Northern’s furniture division closed down he gained employment, again in Minneapolis, this time as an upholster. He commuted daily for several years. Then decided it was time to go out on his own and started Grantsburg Upholstery out of his garage. He produced beautiful work, for over 25 years, until he closed for the winter in 2014 at the age of 80, he was having dementia symptoms and diagnosed with diabetes in May of 2015 and never felt up to returning to work. Don was soft spoken, kind-hearted, funny and loved by all who knew him and as his sister said recently, “one of the good ones.” He will be deeply missed. A visitation will be held on Monday, October 16, 2017 from 5:00pm – 8:00pm at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home in Grantsburg, WI. The Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at 11:00am (visitation from 10-11:00am) at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home in Grantsburg, WI. Interment will be held at Trade River Cemetery in Anderson Twp. A time of fellowship will follow the service at the Grantsburg American Legion Hall.  In lieu of flowers memorial donations are preferred to the American Diabetes Association.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.swedberg-taylor.com