General Information
Full Name: Donald Michael Aschenbrener
Date of Birth: September 8, 1937
Date of Death: March 15, 2013
Donald’s life story
Donald M. Aschenbrener
On Wednesday, September 8, 1937 in St. Paul, MN, Donald Michael was the only child born to parents Michael and Ethel (Theissen) Aschenbrener. Don’s childhood years were spent in Highland Park. Don was a proud graduate of the Class of 1955 from Cretin High School.
On December 4, 1954, Don joined the Navy Air Reserves, until being honorable discharged on December 3, 1962. While in the Naval Reserves, he attended the College of St. Thomas and later, graduated from Mankato State, with an education degree, later earning a master’s degree.
In the 1950’s, Don started courting a close friend, Yvonne Lois Cunningham. Their love grew and on December 27, 1958 at St. John’s Catholic Church in St. Paul, they exchanged wedding vows. Don and Yvonne were blessed with 6 children, Michael, Mark, Martin, Marcia, Matthew and Monica.
Shakopee Public Schools hired Don to join their teaching staff in 1960. One of the three teachers to start the new junior high wing, he was assigned to the seventh grade. For the next 30 years, Don became an icon to the students and teachers at the school. For most of his years, Don taught history and drivers education. He truly enjoyed teaching and was very well liked by the students. During the summer months, Don spent many hours assisting the Parks and Recreation Department and refinishing buildings at Murphy’s Landing.
Each summer, Don would pack up the camper and the family and head off to see the many sights of the national parks, throughout the United States. Being a history teacher, he was always full of knowledge and wisdom of the places of interest. As the kids grew up, Don could be heard cheering on his children at the school events and sports. In later years, he and Yvonne traveled all over the world, including their favorite spots of Spain, Switzerland, China, England and Germany. They even chaperoned many youth trips abroad.
With a love for the outdoors, Don was an avid hunter. He and his boys enjoyed many deer, grouse and pheasant hunting trips across Minnesota, Wisconsin and out west. He was also an excellent marksman (he could literally drive nails) and would spend endless hours casting bullets and reloading his own ammunition. Don dappled in woodworking, enjoyed riding motorcycles, snowmobiles and fishing up north with fellow teachers. His true passion in life was his wife, children and grandchildren.
The early morning hours of Friday, March 15, 2013, Don Aschenbrener, age 75, entered God’s arms at Friendship Manor Nursing Home in Shakopee. He will be missed as an educator and as a patient husband and a consistent and fair dad and grandpa.
Deeply missed and remember always by those who loved Don, wife of 54 years, Yvonne of Shakopee; children, Michael (Mary) Aschenbrener of Forest Lake, Mark Aschenbrener of Louisville, TN, Martin (Darcy) Aschenbrener of Boston, MA, Marcia (Dave) Parrott of Henderson, Matthew (Crystal) Aschenbrener of White Water, WI, Monica (Ray) Goedeke of St. Peter; grandchildren, Collette, Thomas, Daniel, Megan, Sommer, Crystal, Justin, Chelsea, Ryann, Riley, Samantha, Aaron; 7 great-grandchildren; other loving relatives and devoted friends. Don is preceded in death by his parents.
Pall bearers for Don will be Thomas Aschenbrener, Daniel Aschenbrener, Justin Parrott, Aaron Goedeke, Ben Williams and Brad Fries.
The visitation will be on Monday, March 18, from 4-7 pm at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home 833 South Marschall Road Shakopee and one hour prior to the service at the church. The Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, March 19 at 10 am, at the Church of St. Mark 350 Atwood Street, Shakopee. Father Peter Wittman will preside. Don will be laid to rest at the Shakopee Catholic Cemetery.
Memorials are preferred and will be distributed in Don’s memory by his family.
The Aschenbrener family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Shakopee Chapel.
Visitation
When: Monday, March 18th, 4-7 pm
Location: Ballard Sunder Funeral Home
Address:833 South Marschall Road
Shakopee, MN 55379
Service Information
When: Tuesday, March 19th, 10:00 am
Location: Church of St. Mark
Address: 350 S Atwood St
Shakopee, MN
Interment
Shakopee Catholic Cemetery
