Donald A. Vondra

Lancaster, Wisconsin Donald A. Vondra, 86, of Lancaster, WI passed away at 4:47 a.m. Sunday, June 1, 2014, at his home surrounded by family and friends. The funeral mass will be 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at St. Clement's Church in Lancaster with Rev. John Sasse officiating. Burial will be in St. Andrew Cemetery, Tennyson, Wisconsin. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Monday at Casey Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Cuba City where the parish scripture wake service will be at 7:45 p.m. Friends may also call from 1:30-2:45 p.m. Tuesday at the church before the funeral mass. Don was born on September 8, 1927, in Cuba City, Wisconsin, the son of Bernard F. and Hilda C. (Reuter) Vondra. He grew up in Cuba City WI and attended the Vondra School through the 8th grade before going to work on several area farms. He really loved working for Leonard Shaeffer and they became lifelong friends. He eventually bought his parent’s farm near Happy Corners and farmed there for 17 years before moving to Sedona, Arizona. They resided in Arizona for 3 ½ years then moved back to Potosi to be near family and friends and eventually moved to Lancaster where he drove for the Commission on Aging and Homeward Bound for 23 years. Don was a loving father and husband. He married his sweetheart, Norma Potter, in 1950 and they had 10 children. He was a great friend and always willing to lend a helping hand. He really enjoyed getting together with family and friends. Since his children are scattered around the country, he loved having a destination reunion every year, anywhere from South Carolina to Arizona. Don loved to fish and enjoyed going with his brothers to Chetek to spend a week fishing every year. He traveled all around the US and Canada. He went on several cruises to the Caribbean and went to Germany and Holland. Even though he loved to travel he was always glad to get home. Don was a member of St. Clement's Church in Lancaster and the Knights of Columbus. Don is survived by his wife Norma Potter Vondra; nine children, Les (Julie) Vondra, of Platteville, Barb (Bill) Ballard, of Mantorville, MN, Donna Vondra, of Stoughton, WI, Daryl Vondra, of Davenport, IA, Diane (Sal) Toro, of Piedmont, SC, Kathy (Donnie) Smith, of Duncan, SC, Lonnie (Nancy) Vondra, of Moncks Corner, SC, Pat (Bev) Vondra, of Swartz Creek, MI, and Jeanne (Dale) Byers of Easley, SC; and Bernie's companion, Kathy Bickelhaupt, of Sedona AZ. He also has 26 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. He is survived by three brothers and one sister, Kenny Vondra, of Platteville, Eldon (Ginny) Vondra, of Madison, Joe (Rita) Vondra, of Brooklyn, WI, and Rita Taylor, of Charlotte, NC. He was preceded in death by his son, Bernie Vondra, of Sedona Arizona, and his sisters, Burnetta Neis and Darlene Loeffelhotz. The family would like to thank St. Jude's Hospice for all the care and support during his final months. It was greatly appreciated.