Donald Lee Stirling

Donald Lee Stirling was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on August 17, 1948, and spent his childhood there. He attended college and completed a carpentry apprenticeship in Denver. He worked as a union carpenter in Denver and St. Paul and continued his carpentry work after moving to Gays Mills in 1980. He enjoyed making maple syrup after learning about it on childhood trips to visit family near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Maple syruping was one of the first things he got into after moving to Gays Mills, along with building the family home and keeping his organic kitchen garden.

Don met the love of his life, Mary, in Denver. They were married in 1973 and were blessed with their son Pete and daughter Hanna. After a heart attack in 2011, he was grateful to be able to welcome three grandchildren, Annika, Marina, and Anders. He is remembered with love by many friends, who appreciated his kind heart, genuine nature, his interest in social politics, history, religion, and his excellent baking and long-winded storytelling. Throughout his whole life, his faith was the heart and soul of his existence.

Don was active in community affairs. At St. Mary’s parish in Gays Mills, he served as lector and eucharistic minister. For the past 6 years he served as County Supervisor for southern Clayton Township and Gays Mills. He enjoyed working on several committees and often remarked how well the County Board members worked together, focusing on finding solutions to practical issues like getting broadband access to the entire county. In the Jubilee year of 2000 he worked with a group of residents to found a Restorative Justice program in Crawford County, and facilitated healing meetings between crime victims and offenders for the next 15 years.  He also represented the Driftless area on the board of Wisconsin Conservation Voters and was especially pleased to be able to help start their Native Vote program. He also loved singing bass with the Ridgetones Community Chorus in Viroqua for 19 years with Mary and other music loving friends.

Don had a heart attack and died on January 1, 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earle Stirling and Edith Fisk Stirling and an infant sister Carol. He is survived by his wife, Mary (Sundberg) Stirling; children, Peter Stirling (Barbra Williams) and Johanna Stirling Palm (Chris Palm); grandchildren, Annika, Marina, and Anders Stirling Palm; and sister-in-law Carol Sundberg.

Memorials may be made to the Crawford County Community Fund, Community Conservation, Catholic Relief Services, Partners in Health, or Heifer International.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 9, 2023, at St. Mary’s Parish in Gays Mills. Visitation was held on Sunday, January 8 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Vosseteig Funeral Home in Gays Mills. Additional visitation was held on Monday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Don was laid to rest at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Gays Mills. Online Condolences may be expressed at www.vossfh.com.

Vosseteig Funeral Home & Crematory is serving Don's family.

325 Sunset Ridge Ave.

Gays Mills, WI 54631

608-735-2100