Donald (Don) Eugene Buchner, age 80, died peacefully on July 2, 2022, at his home in Trego, Wisconsin with friends by his side.

Don was born on October 2, 1941, in Cicero, Illinois to Charles and Bernice Buchner.

After graduating in 1959 from J. Sterling Morton High School in Cicero, Don became an apprentice at Union Special Machine Company and earned his Journeyman license as a Tool and Die Maker in August of 1963.

Don was drafted in 1965 and served in the US Army at Darnell Army Hospital in Texas as a Postal Administrative Specialist until being Honorably Discharged on December 31, 1969. After serving, Don returned to Union Special Machine Company where he worked various positions of increasing responsibility during his 42 ½ year career.

Don’s connection to Wisconsin predated his birth when his father Charlie first vacationed at Whispering Pines Lodge at Matthews Lake, Washburn County, Wisconsin in 1926. Charlie and Bernice honeymooned at Whispering Pines Lodge in 1929. In 1948, 7-year-old Don and his 3-year-old sister Alice vacationed in Wisconsin for the first time. Throughout his childhood, Don and his family vacationed at many of the other lakes in Washburn County including Long Lake and Big McKenzie Lake. Don and his father Charlie were avid fishermen and his photo albums are filled with full stringers and big catches. Don shared his favorite fishing holes with this author, his close, younger generation friend Jim Wiltzius, but, unfortunately, those secrets have all been forgotten.

Don continued vacationing at Whispering Pines Lodge throughout his adult life and in 1991, realized a life-long dream when he purchased land on Matthews Lake. Don built his retirement home and moved from Cicero, Illinois to Wisconsin in 2005. Don enjoyed Northwoods living, gardening and growing wildflowers, woodworking, spending time with his walk-about friends in the community and visiting with the friends he made over the decades of vacationing at Whispering Pines Lodge.

Don was preceded in death by father Charles, mother Bernice and sister Alice.

He is survived by his cousins Shirley Schwab, Darlene Schille, Lois Zeigler-Glick, Cheryl Kozlow, Laurel Mantzaris and their families and will be missed by them as well as by his walk-about friends and the remaining Piners from Whispering Pines Lodge.

A graveside service will be held for Don at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, July 8, 2022 at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Matteson, IL.

A Celebration of Life Gathering will take place at the Chicog Town Hall on Saturday, July 23rd at 12:00 pm.

Last Update: Jul 08, 2022 6:57 am CDT