Posted: May 5, 2009 |(0) Comments

Donald Derse "Don" Counsell died at age 62 after a 16-year battle with multiple myeloma.

He was born Aug.17, 1946, to Donald (Huck) and Violet Counsell. He attended Purdue University.

After graduating in 1968, he was hired by Wisconsin Telephone. In 1969, he married Susan White and moved to Rochester, N.Y., to attend Olympic Rowing Training Camp. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969 and served two years, including one year in Vietnam.

When he came back to Wisconsin, he resumed his career with Wisconsin Bell and its successors for the next 30 years. He earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Marquette University in 1977 and a master's degree in management from Stanford University as a Sloan Fellow in 1982. He retired in 1999 as director of corporate strategy for SBC/Ameritech.

He was a member of St. Bruno Parish in Dousman, the Knights of Columbus, VFW Post 2260 and American Legion Bell Telephone Post 427. He volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and many other church and civic projects. One of the highlights of his life was being an Olympic torch bearer in 2002.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Sue; children, Don (Carolyn) Counsell and Darcy Moder; grandchildren, Eddie, Tommy, Davy and Megan; brothers and sisters, Al (Gloria), Jim (Linda), Jerry (Marsha), Kathy (John) Brocke, Steve (Cyndi), Tim (Sue) and Bob (Elly) Counsell; sister-in-law, Pam Rhoads; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral Mass was May 1 at St. Jerome's Church, Oconomowoc.

Memorials are suggested to Purdue Foundation – Purdue Crew Boathouse or to the Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital Regional Cancer Center.

The family thanks Dr. Richard Hansen and the nurses and staff at the Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital Regional Cancer Center.

Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral and Cremation Services handled the arrangements.