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Submitted: 6/25/23 • Approved: 7/5/23 • Last Updated: 7/8/23 • R275139-G275139-S3
Section Maple Leaf Plot # 176
Donald Joseph Baatz
August 29, 1932 - November 25, 2022
Sioux Falls, SD - Donald Joseph Baatz, 90, passed away Friday, November 25, 2022 at Good Samaritan Center.
Donald J. Baatz was born August 29, 1932 to John Peter and Loretta Baatz at Rock, Minnesota. The family had six children; Donald, Richard, James Dennis and girls, Patricia (Ted) Colbjornsen, and Mary Ann (William) Hornig.
Donald has on adopted son, Steve Baatz and several nieces and nephews.
Donald was united in marriage to Velda D. Gericke on November 24, 1979, in Minnehaha County. Donald served in the U.S. Army for several years. He is a member of the VFW and the Faith Lutheran Church. Don was a member of the Polka group of dancers, they performed for different organizations. He and his wife, Velda danced quite often with the group. They all had outfits alike and the ladies wore boots that all were the same.
Everyone knew Don was a farmer and raised corn, it was a tall variety and produced very well. He also raised a lot of garden produce and took some to the Farmer’s Market. He also had sweet corn. Don and Velda had breakfast after church with friends at a Café regularly, often Watermelons were a treat that Don would see to it that the Café had on hand and shared with friends or relatives.
Don was a fisherman and did guide many fishermen to the Missouri River and the dams on the river. He also guided the fishermen on Lake Michigan for fishing for Salmon and Don had the famous Fish Boils, which were a delight to attend. Velda was always on call to give Don a helping hand. Don was a gentle man and would help out anyone that needed help, if he could. He helped provide electric scooters from the VFW for the elderly and would see to it that if they needed on he would get it ready and deliver it to them. This he did until he was unable to assist in getting them ready, and injured his shoulder while working on one of the scooters. Don and Velda took pride in their yard and had a water feature also that was beautiful. Many beautiful flowers were grown in their yard. They always had a tiny Tea Cup Poodle that was usually spoiled like a child. Don also was a deer hunter and got wild game during the season. He probably knew where all the prize bucks were, like he knew where all the good spots for fishing were, he was a sportsman for sure. Many of Don’s family have passed away.
Survivors include his wife, Velda Baatz; son Steven Baatz; sister-in-law, Alice Engverson; second cousin, Melvin Hahn; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held 1:00pm Thursday, December 1, 2022 at Heritage Funeral Home with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation with family present will begin at 12:00pm one hour prior to the service.
Contributed on 6/25/23 by 9katz
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Record #: 275139