Donald Peck

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Donald W. Peck, 78, of Prior Lake, Minn., formerly of Austin, died Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010 at Friendship Manor in Shakopee, Minn. of complications related to surgery. He had resided there since Jan. 6, 2010.
Donald was born Oct. 3, 1931 in Lansing, Minn., the oldest child of John K. and Elnora (Blowers) Peck. He grew up in Austin where he attended school and graduated from Austin High School in 1949. Shortly after graduation he enlisted in the US Army and served in the radio corps in Japan during the Korean Conflict. In 1954, Don began his work as a station agent/operator with the Milwaukee Railroad. He became a rail traffic controller in 1962 and worked as such in Austin, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Milwaukee, until his retirement in 1994 while living in Milwaukee.
On April 30, 1955 Don was married to Rose M. Gilbertson at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin.
During his years in Austin Don became involved in the drum corps playing with the American Legion Drum Corps until it folded. In 1960, he became the director of the American Legion Junior Drum Corps, later known as the Spamtown Lancers, and remained the director until 1963 when he moved his family to Milwaukee. In 1968, after returning to Austin, he assisted with the Osage Precisionnaires Drum Corps for a short time. He continued enjoying attending drum corps contests up until his death.
Donald loved activities with his family, enjoying many fishing and skiing trips and golfing with them. He was always teasing with the grandchildren which they all enjoyed.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Rose Peck of Prior Lake, Minn.; sons and daughters-in-law, Douglas and Carrie Peck, Altoona, Iowa, Randall Peck, Rochester, Minn., Richard and Lori Peck, East Bethel, Minn.; daughters and sons-in-law, Donnelle and Russell Sampson, Prior Lake, Minn., Rhonda and R. Piers Maunder, French’s Forest, NSW, Australia; 10 grandchildren, Janelle (Travis) Finton, Jonathan (Emily) Peck, Michael (Andrea) Peck, Matthew Peck, Chelsea Frieden, Ashley Peck, Sophia Sampson, Sarah Peck, Courtney Peck and Stephanie Peck; 12 great-grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law, John A. and Madelyn Peck, Yorktown, Va.; sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Donald Hummel, Austin; brother-in-law, Charlie Gilbertson, Austin; sisters-in-law, Claire Haberkorn, Ft. Collins, Colo. and Sonja (Harlan) Sayler, Larimore, N.D.; nieces, nephews and many friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 5 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with the Rev. Ron Barnett officiating. Austin Post #91 American Legion in charge of military rites. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Clasen-Jordan Mortuary and at the church for one hour before the service on Friday.
The family prefers memorials to the donor’s choice
Clasen-Jordan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

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