Donald “Donnie” Schettler, age 81 of Tracy, formerly of Wilmont, passed away peacefully March 24, 2025, at his home surrounded by family and friends. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 5, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Currie. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Fort Snelling Cemetery at a later date. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com Stephens Funeral Service-Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Donald John Schettler was born August 6, 1943, to August and Regina (Becker) Schettler in Wilmont. Donnie was baptized and confirmed at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church and graduated in 1962 from Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic School. Donnie served in the Army from 1964-1966 at Fort Sill in Lawton, OK. On Nov. 18, 1967, Donnie was united in marriage to Cheryl Tobias and they were blessed with four children. They spent nine beautiful years together before her passing. Donnie was later united in marriage to Paula Claggett on April 30, 1977 and they were blessed with one child. Donnie worked at Ford Motor Co. from 1967 until 1978. He moved his family to Reading, where he worked as a feed salesman and DHIA. In 1993, Donnie and Paula moved to Lake Shetek where he worked at Red Rock Rural Water until retirement. They moved to Holly Township in 2000 and Donnie found a knack for trapping gophers. They moved to Tracy in 2022. He enjoyed fishing and camping trips, as well as sitting out front waving at all the cars going by. He also enjoyed farm life planting in the spring and digging in the fall with his son-in-law Joe. Donnie valued life most during social hours with his friends and family.
Donald is survived by his wife, Paula; children: Dawn (Tyler) Jones, Eric (Stacy) Schettler, Kevin (Sonja) Schettler, Kim (Dean) Noble, and April (Joe) DeSchepper; nine grandchildren: Chelsey (Mike), Cheyene, Noah, Emily, Jaycee (Matt), Dustyn, Josh, Trevor and Levi; three great grandchildren: Jaidyn, Bryce, and Ember; siblings: Carol Ericksen, Alan (Jeri) Schettler, John (Diane) Schettler, and Jim (Sandy) Schettler; sister-in-law Sharon Schettler; and many other relatives and friends including Bryan Richardson. Donald is preceded in death by his parents Augie and Gina, wife Cheryl, grandchildren Autumn, Amber, and Eli, brother Pat, and brother-in-law Steve Ericksen.