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Obituary for Donald J. Staff


Donald J. Staff, 75, of Holmen, passed away October 13, 2022, at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse.

Donald was born April 17, 1947, in La Crosse, to Nelbert and Arleen (Kuhn) Staff. Donald graduated from Holmen High School in 1966. Shortly after, on June 7, 1966, he voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Army. Donald completed his military training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, as a Heavy Truck Driver. His first duty station was with Company A, 97th Quartermaster Battalion, Germany, from 1966 to 1967. In September 1967, he deployed to Vietnam, assigned to the 124th Transportation Terminal Command, 10th Transportation Battalion (Terminal), 410th Transportation Company, Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, with follow-on assignments to the 116th Transportation Company, and finally the 565th Transportation Company (Da Nang). After completing his service in Vietnam, Donald transferred to the 471st Transportation Company, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he was honorably discharged on June 6, 1969.

Donald was a long time employee at Trane Company and also owned and operated his own construction and remodeling company. In his free time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and racing stock cars.

Survivors include his twin brother, Daniel (Diane) Staff; sons, Nathan (Heather) Staff and Brent (Tracy) Staff; and grandsons, Alex Staff and Drew and Dawson Staff.

Donald's parents and brother, Ronald Joseph (1946), preceded him in death.

A private graveside service with full military funeral honors will be held in Onalaska City Cemetery. Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Jostad Chapel, West Salem, is in charge of arrangements.