Donald E. Houtakker

Cuba City, Wisconsin Donald E. Houtakker, 80, of Cuba City, Wisconsin, died Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque after suffering from Parkinson's Disease. Services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 28, 2018, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Benton with Rev. David Flanagan officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 9-10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church before the service. Casey Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Benton is in charge of arrangements. Donald was born on August 15, 1937, in Hazel Green, Wisconsin, the son of Philip and Sylvia (Kunkel) Houtakker. He married Ruth M. Menne on June 9, 1959. In his younger years Donald enjoyed playing baseball. He also enjoyed riding horses especially his horse, Thunder, and spending time with his family. Donald was most proud of his family and his wife, Ruth, with whom he would have celebrated 59 years of marriage this June. He was known as "Great-Grandpa Tootsie" to his great-grandchildren for his endless supply of tootsie rolls. Donald was a member of the Benton Saddle Club and St. Patrick's Church in Benton. Survivors include his wife, Ruth; a daughter, Suzanne (Wally) Schollmeyer, of Shullsburg; six sons, Michael (Annette) Houtakker, of Darlington, Kenneth Houtakker, of Shullsburg, Phil (Rita Busch) Houtakker, of Benton, Jeff (Kathy Heim) Houtakker, of Shullsburg, Alan (Erin Mensen) Houtakker, of Urbana, Iowa, and Brian (Gina) Houtakker, of Solon, Iowa; three sisters, Rosemary Vondra, of Platteville, Joan Linden, of Cuba City, and Rita (Gary) Baumhover, of Arkansas; two brothers, Harold Houtakker and David (Adel) Houtakker, both of Cuba City; a sister-in-law, Celina Houtakker, of Cuba City; a brother-in-law, Lloyd Nuxoll, of Idaho; seventeen grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two daughters-in-law, Becky Houtakker and Ruth Houtakker, a sister Betty Nuxoll; and two brothers-in-law, Jim Linden and Arlen Vondra. The family prefers memorials be given to the Donald E. Houtakker Memorial Fund. The family would like to thank Dr. Janes, Dr. Joseph, and Dr. Bearse of Medical Associates, the great staff of Upland Hills Home Care, and the Benton First Responders.