Donald William Essen, age 88, of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, at his residence at Eagle Ridge Senior Living in Osceola, Wisconsin.
Donald was born on March 25, 1937, in Amery, Wisconsin, the youngest of parents Carl and Evelyn (Yourston). He attended Deronda Elementary and Amery High School. He married Vinita H. Hawkins on March 28, 1959, and they lived on a farm in Deronda, Wisconsin, for 10 years. After leaving the farm, he managed the O.K. Hardware store in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and then went into home construction and renovation.
He was an extremely talented carpenter who created custom furniture and pieces for many people, colleges, and churches. Donald retired from Crown College, located in Waconia, Minnesota, where he worked for 17 years. After retirement, he continued to build special wood pieces in his custom shop and restore antique farm tractors. He enjoyed traveling with his best friend, Vinita, on bus tours across the U.S. for 10 years until his health would no longer tolerate it. Donald was very active in church groups and at Sunday School at Alliance Church in St. Croix Falls.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Evelyn; his siblings, Warren Rouse, Carl Essen, Earnest Essen and Delores (Essen) Dodge; sisters-in-law, Vicky (Hawkins) Fredrickson, Lenore Essen and Virginia Essen; and brothers-in-law, Roger Peterson, Martin Schwan, Ralph Hawkins, LaVerne Hawkins and Floyd Dodge.
He is survived by his precious wife of 66 years, Vinita H. Essen. Donald has three children: Kevin (Julie) Essen, Allen (Gail) Essen and Karilyn (Kevin) Doehling; seven grandchildren, Jamie Essen (Tony Peltier), Nate Essen, James (Amber Zeeb) Essen, Allen Jr. Essen, Michelle (Ben) Lohse, Britney (Dominick) Lonnee and Christopher (Brittny) Lundeen; and 18 great-grandchildren, Jamison Peltier, Christian Peltier, Alec Peltier, Vayda Essen, Zoey Essen, Matthew Essen, MaryKate Essen, Michael Essen, Daniel Essen, Paisley Stemm, Austin Stemm, Rylie Lonnee, Bo Lonnee, Luke Lundeen, Olivia Lundeen, Katie Grawey, Tyler Grawey, and Anna Grawey. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Funeral services for Donald will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, at Alliance Church of the Valley in St. Croix Falls, WI. Visitation is held one hour before the service. A private burial will take place at the East Lincoln Cemetery in Amery, WI.
The family extends a special thanks to Tammy Montpetit (Eagle Ridge) and the Adoray Hospice team for their wonderful support and compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to the Alliance Church of the Valley in St. Croix Falls, WI.
Arrangements with Grandstrand Funeral Home of Osceola, WI. Condolences can be expressed online at grandstrandfh.com.
