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- La Crosse Tribune
December 26, 2002
ONALASKA, Wis. - Donald E. Huggett, 82, of Onalaska died at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002. He was born Jan. 3, 1920, in La Crosse to Dwight and Mabel (Lund) Huggett. He spent his childhood days in Midway, Wis., graduated from Holmen High School, Holmen, Wis., in 1938 and attended one year at the La Crosse Teachers College. He married Lorraine Briggs on Sept. 20, 1941, at New Amsterdam Presbyterian Church.
He served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946, including occupational forces in Germany. After the war, he completed his electrician's apprenticeship under his father and later was employed as a maintenance electrician at The Trane Co. He was senior electrician at Dairyland Power's nuclear power station, Genoa, Wis., until 1973, when he was appointed city clerk for the city of Onalaska until his retirement in 1985.
Don and Lorraine raised their family and lived in Onalaska for over 55 years. He was involved in the community for most of those years, serving as a volunteer firefighter, acting on the city council for over 10 years and on the plan commission for five years. He also served on the board of education for one year. In 1994, Don was selected parade marshal for the Onalaska Sunfish Days and enjoyed riding in the parade each year thereafter. He also served on the Sias Library Trust Fund.
Don was a devoted member of the Onalaska United Methodist Church since 1952. He sang as a tenor in the choir for many years and also at weddings and funerals in the area. He served on multiple Methodist Church committees at local and district levels, most recently as a member of the board of trustees.
His family and friends will remember him as a loving husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend and neighbor. He was a man of strength, integrity and compassion - he took great pleasure in sharing his wit, wisdom and wonderful sense of humor. He had a zest for life and knowledge.
Don is survived by two daughters, Carol (Steven) McCombs of Milton, Wis., and Ellen (Dennis) Kolb of Minneapolis; two sons, Douglas (Mary) Huggett of Onalaska and David (Connie) Huggett of Onalaska; one sister, Ruth Richards of Thornton, Colo.; a brother-in-law, Raman (Elda) Briggs of Kokomo, Ind.; and a sister-in-law, Katherine (Earl, deceased) Briggs of California; six grandchildren, Colleen (Alan) Neitzel, Jenifer (Chris) Towner, Eric (Michelle) Prieur, Erin Prieur and Christine and Michelle Huggett; four great-grandchildren, Evan and Josh Neitzel and Jayna and Jake Prieur; and four stepgrandchildren, Spencer and Holden McCombs, and Chris and Melissa McBeth; seven nieces and six nephews; and special friend, Pauline Phillips. His parents and his wife, Lorraine, preceded him in death.
A military graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at the Onalaska Cemetery.
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1920 - 2002 (82 years)
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