Donnie Dale Blair Jr.
On Tuesday, March 12, Donnie Dale Blair, Jr. beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away at the age of 69 in Palm Springs, CA, surrounded by family. Don was hospitalized for a few weeks after suffering a stroke while on vacation. He was born on June 27, 1949 in Salem, Ohio, and was the oldest of seven children. Don was a basketball star for David Anderson High School in Lisbon, Ohio and was inducted into their Hall of Fame. He attended Beckley College and joined the Marine Corps where he served from 1968-1972. While serving in Vietnam, he was awarded the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. He returned to serve as a Sergeant in the Marine Corp Honor Guard with White House duty in Washington, DC. He was also a member of the Marine Corp All-Star Basketball Team and was awarded MVP. He was proud to have been selected to lay the wreath at the ceremony of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with President Richard Nixon. Don met and married Barbara Jo Swedenburg on January 22, 1972 in Washington DC. They eventually moved to Minnesota and had three sons; Sean, Brett, and Lance. He had a sales career working for Cenex, Duggan-Hanson and Associates, and the last 30 years at Ridley-Blair & Associates. Don was known for his generosity, his love for his family, spending days on the St. Croix River, doting on his grandchildren, and his love for anything chocolate.
Don is survived by wife Barbara; sons Sean (Jammi), Brett, and Lance (Jessie); grandchildren Chase and Samantha; siblings Bev Moore, Mary Ann Sheely, and Marge Davis; brothers-in-law Jim, Tom (Becki Tholen), Joe (Vicky) Swedenburg, and sister-in-law Lisa (Rod) Hendrikson; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Ruth and Donnie Blair; mother and father-in-law Genevieve and James Swedenburg; siblings Rich, Mike and Greg Blair; and granddaughter Maddin Blair.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, April 14 at 2 pm, at White Eagle Country Club in Hudson, WI. Memorials preferred to the family.