Donald Gordon Ethen

Donald Gordon Ethen was born on December 21, 1914 to Theodore and Olga Etthun. he had 3 Sister named Mildred, Irene and Alice Etthun.  

Early life

  Donald went to Stoughton High school and graduated in 1932 at the age of 18. He was the Class President, part of the Basketball Sqaud, Football Sqaud, Class Prophecy '32, National Honor Society, and Hi-Y. [2] He went to UW-Madison for College and earned his BS Degree of Education. He also helped Found the Modern Democratic party of Wisconsin with Jim Doyle Sr. (Father of Wisconsin governer Jim Doyle Jr.). He Married Iona M. Barcley on November 25, 1939 in his hometown Stoughton, Wisconsin.  

Military Service

  Donald Enlisted into the Navy during World War 2 (WWII) and served as a radio operator on a Destroyer in the South Pacific. during his service, he found a Japanese .25 Caliber Sniper Rifle. He was Honorably Discharged from the Navy in 1953 as a US Navy Lieutenant.    

The 1940's

  On November 24, 1942, his first son Thomas Ethen was born, and in 1945, he began teaching at Roosevelt Junior High School in Beloit and Received his MS Degree in Mathematics in 1949. In 1947 his second son Eric Ethen was born on October 27, 1947.

Teaching Career

  In 1962, he completed his MS in administrtion at UW-Madison. Shortly afterwards, Donald took the position of the High School principal of the Livingston school district. Later, he moved to the Mazomanie school district and was the principal/superintendant and later went on to be the superintendant at the Milton High School District, He finally retired after a long career of teaching at the Rosendale-Brandon School District.

Later Life

  Donald moved to Rosendale with his wife Iona after retiring from teaching. On November 24, 1993 his wife Iona passed away. In 2004, Donald was Moved to Cumberland, Wisconsin by his son Thomas. He died on May 9, 2010 in Cumberland, Wisconsin.

Obituary

  Donald G. Ethen, 95, of Cumberland died Sunday, May 9, 2010 at Cumberland Extended Care Unit. He was born December 21, 1914 in Stoughton, WI to Theodore and Olga (Johnson) Ethen. Don graduated from Stoughton High School in 1932 and received his BS degree of Education from the UW-Madison in 1939. While at UW-Madison, he was a founding member of the modern Democratic Party along with Jim Doyle, Sr., father of Wisconsin Governor, Jim Doyle. Don proudly served in the US Navy as a radio operator on a destroyer in the South Pacific during WWII. He was honorably discharged in 1953 as a US Navy Lieutenant. Don was married in Stoughton, WI on November 25, 1939 to Iona Barclay. In 1945, he began teaching at Roosevelt Junior High School in Beloit and received his MS degree in Mathematics in 1949 and in 1962, completed his MS in Administration at UW-Madison. Shortly afterwards, Don took a position as High School Principal at Livingston School District and then moved to the Mazomanie School District and was the principal/superintendent. He went on to be the superintendent at Milton High School District and finally retired from Rosendale-Brandon School District. He is survived by 2 sons, Tom (Ann) Ethen of Cumberland and Eric (Lisa) Ethen of Janesville, WI; 7 grandchildren, Cindy, Jennifer, Mark, Kari, Cristen, Denise and Kelsey; 5 great grandchildren and 1 sister, Alice Christensen of Seattle, WA. Don was preceded in death by his wife, Iona on November 25, 1993 and 2 sisters, Mildred and Irene. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, May 15, 2010 at Riverside Cemetery, Stoughton, WI.

Resident state: Wisconsin
Source: http://ssdmf.info/