Donald Arthur Kalmes

Rollingstone,Donald A. Kalmes, 86, of Rollingstone died Monday, November 10, 2008 at Winona Community Memorial Hospital. Donald was born to Arthur and Elizabeth "Elsie" (Hofstetter) Kalmes December 1, 1921. He graduated from Holy Trinity High School and Winona Technical College. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946. He attended U.S. Navy Flight School where he learned to fly. Then he attended St. Mary's College of California, and California Polytechic College at San Luis Obispo. On May 22, 1948 he married Jean Reed and they celebrated sixty years of marriage in 2008. They farmed in Bear Creek Valley of rural Rollingstone. Donald was also employed by Kalmes Implement and Rollingstone Creamery. He served his church and community in various capacities through the years. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church of Rollingstone, the St. Nicholas Society, and the Luxembourg American Society. He was a founding member and served for many years on the Board of Directors of the Rollingstone Luxembourg Heritage Museum. Don also served as treasurer of the Norton Township Board for 26 years. He enjoyed woodworking, bird watching, reading, traveling, playing cards, and watching professional sports. Survivors include his wife Jean, two children, Linda (Tony) Mendez of Key West Florida and John (Julie) Kalmes of Rollingstone, five grandchildren; Kristine (Scott) Karl, Jason Kalmes (friend Crystal Merchlewitz and children Destiny and Dyllan), Jessica, Jordan and Jonah Kalmes, two brothers; Eugene (Betty) Kalmes of Rollingstone and David (Jan) Kalmes of Woburn, MA, two sisters; Barbara (Jack) Stehn of Springfield, IL and Suzanne (Tom) Quigley of Spokane, WA, and brother-in-law Frank Feils of Aitkin, MN. He was preceded in death by a grandson Joshua and three sisters, Mary Callaway, Elizabeth Lapidus and Rosemarie Feils, and many family and friends. The Funeral Mass will be at 11a.m. Saturday, November 15, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Rollingstone with the Reverend Donald Lovas celebrating. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 4-8 p.m. and Saturday one hour before services. A Christian Prayer Service will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the church. Please share a memory of Don at his on-line guestbook and view his Tribute Video when ready at www.hofffuneral.com. Hoff Funeral Home of St. Charles is assisting the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to Rollingstone Luxembourg Heritage Museum, PO Box 63, Rollingstone, MN 55969.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/39478