Donald R. Klemme, 94, of Sheboygan, passed away on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at Sheboygan Senior Community. He was born August 16, 1932 in the Town of Sheboygan Falls to the late Herbert and Eleanor (Boll) Klemme. Don graduated from Plymouth High School. He went on to attend University of Wisconsin, River Falls where he obtained a bachelor’s degree. Don was a U.S. Army (SCARWAF) veteran who served from 1951-1953.
On November 24, 1960, he was united in marriage to Janet Butterfield at Spider Lake Church, near Hayward, WI. They were married for almost 60 years before her passing in 2020. The two of them enjoyed traveling with friends and family around the United States.
Don dedicated more than 30 years to teaching biology and agriculture in the Howards Grove School District. Following his retirement, he continued sharing his love of history and community as a horse-drawn wagon driver at Wade House. He was a faithful member of Saron UCC.
Together, Don and his wife Janet were founding members and charter presidents of the Sheboygan County Kettle Squares Dance Club. Don had a lifelong passion for animals and agriculture. A practitioner and advocate for the living history of draft horses in Wisconsin, Don kept his own team of working Belgians. He gave wagon and sleigh rides and collected maple tree sap with the horses. With the help of a friend, he restored his family’s original 1850s wagon. He and Janet drove the wagon from Kenosha to Luxembourg as part of the Wagons of Wisconsin celebration of Wisconsin’s sesquicentennial in 1998.
Don was a generous and giving person who was a regular blood donor at the Sheboygan Blood Center. He also inspired and introduced many high school students to the importance of blood donation. In his spare time, he enjoyed making maple syrup by hand from the trees in his woods. Known for his quick wit and sense of humor, Don also delighted family and friends with the many jokes he loved to tell. He enjoyed his weekly games of skat at Laack’s Hall.
Don is survived by his daughter Carolyn (Dr. Joseph) Gerwin of Brentwood, TN, and son Scott (Barbara) Klemme of Sheboygan; grandchildren Erica (Yuri) Prokrym of North Ridgeville, OH, and Grace Gerwin Rydburg of Nashville, TN; one great-grandchild Frederick Prokrym; sister-in-law Sue Klemme of Medical Lake, WA; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife Janet Klemme; his parents; sister, Diane (Dex) Thusius; and brothers, Charles Klemme and David Klemme.
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Saron UCC, W3830 County Road J, Sheboygan Falls, with Pastor Dan Krueger officiating. Burial will follow at Saron UCC Cemetery. Relatives and friends may visit with the family on Friday, August 28, 2026 from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Zimmer Westview Funeral & Cremation Care Center, W2132 Garton Rd., Howards Grove, and again on Saturday, August 29, 2026 from 10:00 AM until the time of service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sheboygan County Historical Society or Saron UCC, or by donating blood in Don’s name through your local blood bank.
The family wishes to thank all the wonderful caregivers at Sheboygan Senior Community and Katie Zimmerman for helping Don write his memoirs.
Zimmer Westview Funeral & Cremation Care Center is caring for Don and his family. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.zimmerfuneralhome.com
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