Person:Donald Tayek (1)

Donald Joseph Tayek

Donald Joseph Tayek was born November 3, 1912, to Frank and Mae Tayek. He attended country school at Cooper Valley. On January 1, 1937, he married Marcella Sabbann. At the time of his death, they were celebrating their sixty-three years together. Donald was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church through his married life.

Donald and Marcella lived on the Tayek farm near Watson, IA. They were blessed with four children: Maxine, Roger, Marlys and Ronald. Donald was a very dedicated farmer, raising pigs, cows and sheep and very good crops on a farm that was important to him. Often at farrowing time, he would spend long nights in the pig barn, making sure the newborn pigs were healthy and able to find their mother.

After retiring from the farm in 1967, Donald and Marcella lived in Monona, IA. Donald became a maintainer operator for Clayton County. Just as he gave his best to farming, so too did he find it important to have the roads well maintained. He wanted them well shaped, smooth, without holes, ruts or bumps.

Some of his favorite times were spent at the cabin near Waukon Junction. The cabin on the Mississippi was a family gathering place. Donald enjoying having his children and grandchildren nearby. He loved teaching them how to fish, showing them how to find the "lucky stones" in Sheephead and appreciating nature.

Donald died Friday, January 7, 2000, at Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital, Prairie du Chien, WI.

Donald loved his family and prayed for them each night. He is survived by his wife Marcella; daughters Maxine Johnson of Elma, IA, and Marlys (David) Kaiser of Regina, Saskatchewan; sons Roger (Bev) Tayek of Marion, IA, and Ronald (Gloria) Tayek of Oshkosh, WI; eleven grandchildren and fifteen grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Leo and a grandson Jake.

Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 10, 2000, at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

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Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - January 9, 2000

Donald Joseph Tayek,87, died Friday, Jan. 7, 2000, in Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital following a long illness. Services: 11 a.m. Monday, St. Paul Lutheran Church, by Pastor Gene Kramer. Burial: Monona City Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Schultz's Funeral Home, Monona. Survivors include his wife, Marcella; two daughters, Maxine Johnson of Elma and Marlys Kaiser of Regina, Sask., Canada; and two sons, Roger of Marion and Ronald of Oshkosh, Wis.