Donald A. Fort

Donald A. Fort, 85, of Money Creek, Minn. died on Thursday, August 31, 2006, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford, Minn. Donald was born on December 26, 1920, at Garvin Heights, Winona, Minn. to Calvin and Emma (Rossin) Fort. He was confirmed at St. Martin's Lutheran Church in Winona, in 1935. Mr. Fort attended public schools in Winona, prior to enlisting in the U.S. Army on August 14, 1939. He served in the European Theater of WWII, the Fourth Cavalry, in the Seventh Corps of the First Army. He proudly served his country, and earned five battle stars, having served in the Battles of Normandy, Northern France, the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He was honorably discharged October of 1945, to the rank of Master Sergeant. Upon successful completion of his army responsibilities, Mr. Fort returned to the Winona area. He married Marilyn J. Pittelko, also from Winona, on October 15, 1952. Shortly thereafter, they moved to rural Houston/ Rushford, Minnesota, where they operated a dairy farm and raised their five children. Mr. Fort remained active on the farm for many years, and was a 50 year member of the DHIA, as well as a member of the Holstein Association. Donald was a life-long hunter, especially enjoying deer hunting. Mr. Fort is preceded in death by his wife Marilyn, who passed away in a sudden and tragic automobile accident on September 15, 1985; brothers: Arnold and James; sister: Delores; grandsons: Benjamin and Matthew; brother-in-law: John Malusky (husband of Blanche); sisters-in-law: Nancy Fort (wife of Gene), and Dorothy "Dottie" (wife of the late James Fort). Mr. Fort is survived by his five children: Terrence of Rochester, Wesley who resides and operates the family farm in rural Houston, Lewis (Dorothy) of Dodge Center, Lori (Steve Wenzel) of Winona, and Donna Fort, of Plano, TX.; seven grandchildren: Calvin Fort, Thomas(Theresa) Fort, Andrew Fort, Crystal (Dan) Liudahl, Sara Wenzel, Emma Wenzel, and Kendall Fort Kolstad; three great grandchildren: Abbigaiyle, Bradon, and Andrienna Liudahl;two brothers: Earl (Rose) Fort of Winona, Gene (Mary Lou) Fort Owensboro, KY; three sisters: Blanch Malusky, Festus, MO, Katherine (Jerry Bjorke) of Apple Valley, and Mary (Par Peterson) of Lake City; brother-in-law: John 'Darby' Beck (husband of Delores), sister-in-law Janice Fort (wife of Arnold). In Lieu of flowers or memoriam, please send remembrances to: 4th Cavalry Memorial, c/o the Old Ford Meade Museum, P.O. Box 164, Fort Meade, SD 57741. Telephone 605-347-9822. Please feel free to sign the guest book or share a memory of Donald with the family at www.hofffuneral.com