Donald Nienow

Donald Nienow March 27, 1916 - February 21, 2010

Donald E. Nienow, age 93 of Mankato, died on Sunday, February 21, 2010 at the Mankato House Health Care Center. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 23rd at 7:00 p.m. at Arnoldt-McRaith Funeral Home in Janesville. Interment will be in the Janesville Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. until the hour of service, at Arnoldt-McRaith Funeral Home in Janesville. Donald Everett was born on March 27, 1916 in Mapleton, Minnesota to Ervin and Marie (Stevens) Nienow. Don grew up in the Mapleton area. He entered military service in the United States Army during WWII. Don fought with the 3rd Armored Spearhead Division that landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy, and later fought in the Battle of the Bulge. After his military service, he returned to the Madison Lake area where he owned and operated his well drilling business. He was united in marriage to LaJune H. Blasing on August 17, 1963 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville. Don and LaJune resided in the Kasota area, and Don worked as a heavy equipment operator in the area for many years. They later moved into Mankato. In their later years they spent many summers at Ron and Pat's resort in Alexandria. Don loved driving his golf cart around the resort, visiting, and giving out 'dollars' to his great granddaughter Mykaela and the children in the family. He was a longtime member of the Madison Lake American Legion #269, and the St. Peter VFW #1220. Don was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville. He is survived by his step son Ronald (Patricia) Meyers of Alexandria; by his step grandchildren Kurt Meyers of Alexandria, Kevin Meyers of Cottage Grove, and Kyle Meyers of St. Cloud; by his step great granddaughter Mykaela Meyers; by his brother Virgil (Dorothy) Nienow of Mapleton, and his sister Bernadine Sommers of Mankato; by nieces and nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his wife LaJune on June 24, 1993; by his parents, and his sister Dorothy (Nicholas) Phillips.