General Information
Full Name: Donald William Borchardt
Date of Birth: January 2, 1930
Date of Death: October 23, 2013
Don’s life story
Donald W. Borchardt
With his loving family present at his side, Don passed away peacefully and entered God’s arms, at the age of 83, the morning of Wednesday, October 23, 2013, at his home in Prior Lake, MN. The Celebration of Life Service will be on Monday, October 28 at 11 am, with visitation two hours prior all at Fish Lake Immanuel Lutheran Church, 20200 Fairlawn Avenue, Prior Lake, MN. Pastor Brent Parrish will preside. Don will be laid to rest next to his triplet brother, Delbert at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery in Prior Lake.
Otto and Clara (Klingberg) Borchardt proudly announced the birth of Donald William, born on the family farm, on January 2, 1930, in Spring Lake Township. His birth was quite unique, for Don was the oldest of triplets. Don, Delbert and Doris weighed a combined total of 5 pounds. They stayed warm packed in cotton and laid in shoe boxes, on top of the oven door. Living during the depression, they were blessed to have survived.
As a young boy, Don walked to school ‘both ways up hill,’ to Fish Lake Immanuel Lutheran Church. He later attended District 17. When it came to high school, Don drove the students to Shakopee High School, attended school and drove the students back home. He graduated from Shakopee in 1949. After high school he helped his dad and uncle on their farms. Most of Don’s career was spent working as a carpenter for Sears. For over 20 years, he also had a small business sharpening saw blades.
Life became complete for Don when he married the girl next door, Verna Mae Busse, on September 11, 1954, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, in Prior Lake. They were blessed with two daughters, Debbie and Lori. As a family, they treasured the annual vacations up north, where their days were spent fishing. Later in life, Don made many trips to Alaska, hoping to catch that prize fish. He also liked to deer hunt as well. As a couple, Don and Verna traveled to all 50 states, Canada and set sail on a cruise in the Caribbean.
For 20 years, Don was a member of the Prior Lake Volunteer Fire Department, with serving as assistant chief for two years. He was also a member of the Prior Lake City Council and served two years as treasurer for the City of Prior Lake. A faithful servant of the Lord, Don was an active member of the Fish Lake Immanuel Lutheran Church, as an elder and a secretary.
Don was a compassionate and loving husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa and brother. He had this soft heart and happy personality, which will be forever missed.
Deeply missed and remembered always by those who loved Don, wife, Verna of Prior Lake; children, Debbie (Stan) Schultz of Park Rapids, Lori (Chuck) Marquardt of Soldotna, Alaska; grandchildren, Jamie Schultz, Derek (Shauna) Schultz, Josh Marquardt, Nick Marquardt; great-grandchildren, Casey and Carter Schultz; sisters, Lois Will of Shakopee, Phyllis Rowe of Prior Lake, Doris Malz of Prior Lake; sister-in-law, Carol Thorsfeldt of Prior Lake; and other relatives and devoted friends.
Don is preceded in death by parents, Otto and Clara; siblings, Floyd (Nora) Borchardt, Delbert (Glendora) Borchardt, Fern (Lester) Blohm; brother-in-laws, Carl Will, Harold Rowe, and Ray Malz.
Don’s grandson, Derek Schultz will be the urn bearer, with the rest of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren being honorary bearers.
The Borchardt family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Prior Lake Chapel. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com
Visitation
When: Monday, October 28, 2013, 9-11 am
Location: Immanuel Lutheran on Fish Lake
Address: 20200 Fairlawn Ave
Prior Lake, MN
Service Information
When: Monday, October 28, 2013, 11 am
Location: Immanuel Lutheran on Fish Lake
Address: 20200 Fairlawn Ave
Prior Lake, MN
Interment
St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery
Prior Lake, Minnesota
