Donald Edwin Long

Donald Edwin Long, age 89 of Viroqua, WI., died January 5, 2020. Donald Edwin Long of Viroqua, WI., passed away January 5, 2020 at 4:05PM, surrounded by his wife and loving family at Gundersen Health System in LaCrosse WI. Don was born March 8th 1930 in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Lane Tech College Prep in Chicago and University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois. He then served with the 698th AAA Gun Battalion during the Korean Conflict. On June 9th 1956, Don married his teenage sweetheart, Margaret Jane (MJ) McAvoy and they happily resided in the Chicago area, where he spent 35 years with Sears, Roebuck and Company in a management capacity. After retirement in 1988, Don and MJ relocated in Viroqua where he kept active by serving the community and church. He served on the Council of Good Shepherd Lutheran, was treasurer of the Endowment Fund for 16 years and sang in the church choir. He also enjoyed singing in the Viroqua Area Mens Chorus. He served 4 terms on The City Council, and later the Plan Commission, The Board of Review and The Board of Appeals. In further service to the community, Don served as President of The Bethel Home and Services Board, The McIntosh Memorial Board, The Vernon Memorial Healthcare Foundation Board, and Vice President of the Viroqua Rotary Club. Don is survived by his wife Margaret Jane of 63.5 years, his son Dr. Richard (Barbara) Long of Viroqua, 2 grandchildren, Melissa (Justin) Bolstad, Matthew (Annie) Long, and 2 great grandchildren, Harlow Jean Bolstad and Hyatt Lawrence Bolstad, all of Viroqua. Funeral services will be held at the Vosseteig/Larson Funeral Home, in Viroqua at 123 W. Decker St. on Thursday January 9th, 2020. Visitation will be at 10AM, funeral service at 11AM, followed by military rites and a luncheon at the funeral home. Private family gravesite burial will be at the Viroqua Cemetery at a later date. Special thanks to the Gundersen Health System Staff: Dr. Michael Kalinosky for his guidance as a primary care provider; Lyn Dobbins, RN and Trisha Miller, RN Care Coordinators for dedication and patience to Dons care; and Nina Conard, PA-C for her hematology support. Also special thanks to Brian Bufton, RN and Dr. Alan Pratt for being by his side and helping Don pass with dignity and peace. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Dons memory to The Gundersen Medical Foundation.