Donald McHale

Donald ?Don? McHale, 81, of Nisswa, died Sunday, July 11, 2004, at the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud. Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, July 15, 10 a.m., at St. Alice Catholic Church in Pequot Lakes. Friends may visit at the church Wednesday, July 14, 5-7 p.m., with parish prayers at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will also be one hour prior to services on Thursday. Arrangements entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.
Donald Francis McHale was born July 12, 1922 in Kansas City, Kansas, to Francis and Helen (Seigler) McHale. After graduating from Delano High School he worked in the Conservation Corp at Embarrass. He enlisted in the Army and served from 1942-1944. Following his honorable discharge he worked for International Harvester and the US Army Ordinance Department in Minneapolis. He moved to Austin, where he was the assistant branch manager at Pillsbury Mills. He was united in marriage to Virginia Anderson, his wife of 50 years, on October 14, 1945. The family moved to Hastings, where Don first worked at Cook Appliance and then managed the Sears Roebuck store. After vacationing in the Lakes Area for many years, he moved to Brainerd in 1971, where he owned and operated Paul Bunyan Oil Company. He was a very successful factory representative for ?A Home Of Your Own.? He also worked as general manager for Clow Furnacy Company, and for Northern Bio-Fuels. After being widowed in 1995, he was united in marriage to Jane Dorsey on August 31, 1996, in Pequot Lakes. Don was the charitable gambling manager for the Pelican Lake Conservation Club for 10 years, and served on the State Gambling Control Board. He was a member of St. Alice Catholic Church in Pequot Lakes, and was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus. He had been a 46-year member of the Pequot Lakes American Legion, Post 49. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Don is survived by Jane, his wife; a son, Michael McHale, of Hoffman; a daughter, Mary McHale, of Brainerd; 2 stepsons, John Nygren, of Pillager, and Russell (Meg) Nygren, of Cushing; 2 stepdaughters, Diane Nygren, of Fargo, ND, and Juanita (Terry) Wallin, of Brainerd; 6 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Virginia; a son, John McHale; and a brother, Leon McHale.