On Saturday, October 4, 2025 Don enjoyed a gorgeous sunny day with close family and his special friend. With the patio door open and a warm autumn breeze, the leaves dancing away were calling for Don to come join the dance. His granddaughter Jenna was able to get a glimpse of a cardinal for a few minutes, and his daughter Jenn and her both later shared in their hearts and minds it was his wife Marlice calling him home to be her dance partner once again. With another racing season ending, Don fell asleep peacefully that evening when God welcomed him to his forever Home.
Don was born on June 21, 1934 in Hilbert, Wisconsin to the late John J. aka “Jack” and Alice N. (Luckow) Diener. Don was confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in 1948. He attended Sheboygan North High School, graduating in 1952. On September 1, 1954 he enrolled and served in the Army as a Specialist 3 with basic training in Fort Riley Kansas, and duty stations in France and Bremerhaven, Germany during the Cold War. Don received the Good Conduct Medal and an Honorable Discharge on August 2, 1957.
On June 28, 1958 he married Marlice E. Hlinak at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sheboygan, who preceded him in death on August 11, 2011. They were both members of Luther Memorial Church for many years. Together they raised four children and especially enjoyed all their grandchildren and great grandson Mason at many family get-togethers.
Don’s careers included Vollrath Co. in the Polishing Dept., United Parcel Service (Sheboygan, Appleton, then commuted from West Bend to Milwaukee), Auto Glass Specialists, Sheboygan Co. Comp. Health Ctr., and Mayline Co., from which he retired in 1995. With his passion for driving, he then worked part-time at Dick Brantmeier as one of their awesome “car jockeys”.
Activities Don enjoyed were numerous, with his No. 1 hobby being Racing! In 1958 he received an old clunker for free from Delmar Odekirk, as the transmission had gone out. Don turned it into a race car, and he won his very first race on a Sunday afternoon at Plymouth Fairgrounds! And so, it began! Don raced many Wisconsin tracks including Appleton, Beaver Dam, Cedarburg, Chilton, Colby, Fond du lac, Francis Creek, Hales Corners, Kaukauna, Manitowoc, Oakfield (where officials stood on a hay wagon!), and Slinger. Don was one of the founding fathers and the first Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car Assoc. He had a great run through 1977 with wife Marlice and their children being his biggest fans, instilling racing in all of them and with son Robert following his footsteps in starting his own racing career. On the track he was a front runner in the Modified division in the 1960s and 1970s. He was inducted into the Plymouth Racing Wall of Fame with the Class of 2025 on Saturday, July 12. That evening Don, his Family and many friends enjoyed the ultimate celebration of his racing career!
Don coached Girls’ Softball with his daughter Kelly’s teams, beginning with tee-ball thru her HS years. Both he and Marlice participated in taking the Girls’ Team to TX, IN, and MI for tournaments. In 2005, both Don and Marlice were inducted into the SSA Softball Hall of Fame.
Don was an Honorary member of the Howards Grove Athletic Assoc. where they hosted the best picnics years ago, along with many other sporting events. He and Hank Semph enjoyed announcing at home sports games. Don and Marlice enjoyed bus trips with the Club, and Don even drove the bus on a few of them!
Don enjoyed traveling with Marlice going to Germany to visit relatives, visiting their daughter Cindy’s many relocations including San Diego, Arizona, Chicago, and finally Virginia Beach, along with many scenic places throughout the U.S.
Throughout the years, Don enjoyed bowling, snowmobiling, fishing with his children & grandchildren, playing many games of Sheepshead – especially with Family at holiday gatherings. He was an avid GB Packer fan, attending games with his buddies in the Vince Lombardi days; he rooted for the Brewers, Bucks and Badgers, and was a #24 Jeff Gordon NASCAR fan. Music moved his feet with polkas and waltzes being his favorites as he and Marlice danced many nights away, as well as with family, relatives & friends throughout the years. He was a member of the “We Love to Dance Club.” He took pride in his home, making sure the lawn was always neatly manicured and receiving many compliments from passersby, and he shared many lawn mower rides with grandson Zachary when he was younger and spent his Wisconsin summers here. He looked out for granddaughter Madison, as she resided and grew up with him at his home, and she helped with looking out for him in return. He enjoyed firing up the grill, Schultz’s restaurant on Calumet Dr., and coffee clutches at McDonald’s in his later years. He often drove up to the Bargain City Auctions in Appleton where he snatched “many great deals!” Car rides with an ice cream stop were one of his pastimes and he knew the routes to many destinations, being a UPS driver years ago. He enjoyed Farmer’s Markets, playing Solitaire on his hand-held, and patronizing Doug’s Skip’er Inn, Racers Hall, and a few other spots “practicing his socialization skills.” He attended many local picnics, parades, and festivals and if they included a Polka Band, that was a bonus!
Don would share many, many stories of his childhood growing up through his lifetime. He was frequently seen smiling and laughing, as he had a quick sense of humor, and was always enjoying the best of times! Seeing or talking to his Family on the phone brought the biggest smiles of all! He enjoyed and lived a very fulfilling life and will be greatly missed by family, relatives, and many friends.
Survivors include four children, Jennifer Prange (significant other Kevin Goetsch), Sheboygan Falls, Cindy Naqvi, Virginia Beach, VA, Robert Diener (significant other Deedee Shady), Green Bay, Kelly Diener, Sheboygan; seven grandchildren Jenna, Howards Grove, Jason, Charlotte, NC, Kayla, Kenneth, both of Sheboygan, Zachary, Keystone, CO and Madison of Green Bay; five great grandchildren Mason, Marlice, Aurora Rey, Riley and Delilah; two brothers-in-law Warren Koepsel, AZ and Keith Reimer, Elcho, one sister-in-law Carol Paape, Plymouth. He is further survived by his special Friend Diane Sperry, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Marlice, an infant daughter, grandson David, two sisters, a brother-in-law and sister-in-law.
Special Thanks are in abundance and the family would like to recognize his care from Aurora Medical Ctr., Rocky Knoll Health Care Ctr., Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice, and the Veteran’s Admin. VA Clinic.
“The Beer Barrel Polka” and “In Heaven there is no Beer” (cuz you drank your share here) is playing and as you take your beautiful, patiently waiting wife Marlice’s hand once again and both “Waltz Across Texas,” you will never be forgotten and forever in our hearts!!!
A celebration of Don’s Life will take place at a later date.
Zimmer Westview Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting our website at www.zimmerfuneralhome.com.
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