Donald B. Zahler

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. on Monday, March 2, 2015 at St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville for Donald B. Zahler, age 84, of Paynesville. Don passed away February 26 at the Paynesville Area Hospital. Burial will take place in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery at a later date.
Visitation will take place from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, March 1 and one hour prior to services on Monday, both at St. Louis Catholic Church.
Don was born May 16, 1930 in Rogers, MN to Victor and Bernadette (Dahlheimer) Zahler. After school he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict as an airplane mechanic. He married Joan Summerdorf on February 16, 1953 in Sioux City, Iowa. They moved to Minneapolis where he completed additional schooling and then moved to Rogers where they built their home. In 1981 they purchased the Rustic Roost in Iron River, WI where he became active in the local snowmobile club helping to expand the trail system. He enjoyed a long career at AT&T where he retired as a Supervisor in Duluth. They moved to Paynesville in 2001 where he was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church and an active member of Paynesville American Legion Post 271. Don will be remembered for his support of the Paynesville Bulldogs.
Don is survived by his wife of 62 years Joan; children Steve (Patti) Zahler of Motley and Bryan (Bev) Zahler of Oliver, WI; granddaughters Jacki Zahler, Lee (Rod Hafften) Zahler and Keri (Ryan) Kuklok; great grandchildren Natalee and Evan Kuklock; sister Sr. Dorothy Zahler of St. Paul; brother Norbert (Betty) Zahler of Rogers; and sister-in-law Joyce Zahler of Monticello.
Preceding Don in death were his parents; and brother Richard Zahler.