DONALD LARRY STRUENSEE was born August 10, 1964 in Neillsville, WI, the son of Dale J. and Barbara J. (Krosinski) Struensee. In 1968 Don's parents were divorced and he and his older siblings (Sandy, Duane, Sarah and Daniel) were raised by foster-parents, Adelia and Dwight Balow, in the rural Abbotsford, WI area. In the Spring of 1971 he and his siblings returned to their father's farm home in the town of Hewett, rural Neillsville, and were raised by their father and their father's second wife, Lois (Yarrington) Richtmyre Struensee, along with Lois' two sons (Brian and Jeff), and Dale and Lois' son (Kevin). Don attended Neillsville area parochial and public schools.

As a young man, after leaving home, Don worked on a farm in the rural Neillsville area, then went west to work, settling in the Colorado Springs, CO area. He was married on August 10, 1985 in Peyton, CO to Rexalyn Ann Platkus. They were the parents of two children: Donelle and Donald Jr. Don owned and operated Struensee Trucking in Colorado for several years. Don and Rexalyn were later divorced.

In the Spring of 2007, Don moved back to the Neillsville area and was employed by Tesmer Construction.

Like his father, Don's hobby was work. For him, working was "vacation". Don was a tall man at six and a half feet, and was friendly and talkative.

Don, a resident of Granton, died at the age of 44 years on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at Wausau Aspirus Hospital in Wausau from injuries sustained from a fall at a work site in the Wausau area.

Don was survived by his children, Donelle Struensee of Harrison, AR and Donald Jr. Granton; his significant other, Faye Klein of Granton, and her children: Dana, Dawn, Deann and Devin Klein. Don was also survived by his parents, Dale and Lois Struensee of Neillsville; two sisters, Sandy High of Condon, OR and Sarah Struensee of Neillsville; two brothers, Duane Struensee and Daniel Struensee, both of the Colorado Springs, CO area; two step-brothers, Brian (Sheri) Richtmyre of Ham Lake, MN and Jeff (Kim) Richtmyre of Olympia, WA; a half-brother, Kevin (Susan) Struensee of Greenwood, WI; nieces and nephews, especially Chad and Sam; all of his friends at Tesmer Construction; and many other family and friends.

Visitation was held at Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2009, with funeral services following at which Pastor John Trewyn officiated. Interment was in the Dells Dam Cemetery in the town of Levis, Clark county, WI. Casketbearers were co-workers and a cousin: Eric Backaus, Phillip "Sparky" Backaus, Ryan "Chito" Murphy, Rick Oldham, Jeff Young and
Mike Struensee.

DONALD LARRY STRUENSEE was born August 10, 1964 in Neillsville, WI, the son of Dale J. and Barbara J. (Krosinski) Struensee. In 1968 Don's parents were divorced and he and his older siblings (Sandy, Duane, Sarah and Daniel) were raised by foster-parents, Adelia and Dwight Balow, in the rural Abbotsford, WI area. In the Spring of 1971 he and his siblings returned to their father's farm home in the town of Hewett, rural Neillsville, and were raised by their father and their father's second wife, Lois (Yarrington) Richtmyre Struensee, along with Lois' two sons (Brian and Jeff), and Dale and Lois' son (Kevin). Don attended Neillsville area parochial and public schools.

As a young man, after leaving home, Don worked on a farm in the rural Neillsville area, then went west to work, settling in the Colorado Springs, CO area. He was married on August 10, 1985 in Peyton, CO to Rexalyn Ann Platkus. They were the parents of two children: Donelle and Donald Jr. Don owned and operated Struensee Trucking in Colorado for several years. Don and Rexalyn were later divorced.

In the Spring of 2007, Don moved back to the Neillsville area and was employed by Tesmer Construction.

Like his father, Don's hobby was work. For him, working was "vacation". Don was a tall man at six and a half feet, and was friendly and talkative.

Don, a resident of Granton, died at the age of 44 years on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at Wausau Aspirus Hospital in Wausau from injuries sustained from a fall at a work site in the Wausau area.

Don was survived by his children, Donelle Struensee of Harrison, AR and Donald Jr. Granton; his significant other, Faye Klein of Granton, and her children: Dana, Dawn, Deann and Devin Klein. Don was also survived by his parents, Dale and Lois Struensee of Neillsville; two sisters, Sandy High of Condon, OR and Sarah Struensee of Neillsville; two brothers, Duane Struensee and Daniel Struensee, both of the Colorado Springs, CO area; two step-brothers, Brian (Sheri) Richtmyre of Ham Lake, MN and Jeff (Kim) Richtmyre of Olympia, WA; a half-brother, Kevin (Susan) Struensee of Greenwood, WI; nieces and nephews, especially Chad and Sam; all of his friends at Tesmer Construction; and many other family and friends.

Visitation was held at Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2009, with funeral services following at which Pastor John Trewyn officiated. Interment was in the Dells Dam Cemetery in the town of Levis, Clark county, WI. Casketbearers were co-workers and a cousin: Eric Backaus, Phillip "Sparky" Backaus, Ryan "Chito" Murphy, Rick Oldham, Jeff Young and
Mike Struensee.