Donald "Don" Fiedler

Donald Fiedler, 79 year old resident of Pierz, MN, passed away at Mille Lacs Health System in Onamia due to Alzheimer's dementia disease complications on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. A casual Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, October 13 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Emblom Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls. There will be a time of sharing at 2pm. Burial will be private and held at a later date.

Don entered this world, along with his twin & best friend Dave, on November 29, 1944 in St. Cloud to the late Henry and Evelyn (Schreifels) Fiedler. He graduated from Father Pierz Memorial High School and earned his bachelor and master’s degree at St. Cloud State University. He loved learning, sharing knowledge & reading his whole life.

Donald was united in marriage to Jacklyn [Jackie] Warner on June 1, 1974 in Iowa at the Little Brown Church in the Vale. Donald was a high school biology teacher for 1 year in Cambridge and 33 years in Pierz.

In his earlier years, Don played basketball, baseball, & volleyball along with swimming, lifeguarding, skating & bowling. He became a beekeeper 50 years ago & grew his interest into a sideline business. His bee's honey could be found at many MN health food stores & crafts fairs around central MN & beyond. He always appreciated his honey customers & the landowners whose land he placed beehives on. 

He enjoyed gardening, mentoring, traveling, concerts, hunting, fishing, driving bus for school sports and activities, bird feeding [he was a federal bird bander most of his adult life], and most importantly a family gathering of any kind.

He was a member of the North Central Bee Keepers and MN Honey Producers organizations. He was a MN State Fair honey judge from 1984 through 2012 when kidney cancer & multiple myeloma required intensive treatment. He had been in remission for 11 mostly good years until dementia took over.

 Donald forever cherished growing up on a farm in Pierz and will forever be missed by his family & friends. 

Left to honor his memory are his wife, Jackie (Warner) Fiedler; sons, Scott (Cindy) Fiedler of Ozark, MO, Luke (Yvonne Zachman) Fiedler of Minnetonka, MN; daughter, Jessica (Noah) Johnson of Iowa City, IA; grandchildren Ben, Sara, Marcus, Liam & Evie. Sisters, Dorothy Johnson of Superior, WI, Shirley Moen of Bloomington, MN, Mary (Carl) Peters of St. Louis Park, MN, Phyllis (Jerry) Feia of Little Falls, MN, Wanda Moen of Bloomington, MN; sisters-in-law, Carol Fiedler of Buffalo, MN, Dorothy Bachan of Little Falls, MN. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Dave and Jerry Fiedler; nephew, Steve Johnson; brother-in-law, Jerry Johnson; mother- and father-in-law, Doris and Al Warner. 

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Horizon Health in Pierz, the Mayo Clinic, Mille Lacs Health System in Onamia, and all the nurses, doctors, and social workers who cared for and supported Don & Jackie. 

 In lieu of flowers or gifts please donate to the:

American Cancer Society online at:

www.donate cancer. org OR Call to donate: 1-800-227-2345 

OR The Alzheimer’s Association:

Phone 1.800.272.3900 OR online at: www.ALZ.org

OR

Send a check to: Alzheimer's Association P.O. Box 96011 Washington, DC 20090-6011