A Family Funeral Home
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Donald Lee Lotharius

March 29, 1954 - March 29, 2022
Racine, WI

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Visitation

Friday, April 22, 2022
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM CDT
Preservation Hall Racine
740 Lake Avenue
Racine, WI 53403

Service

Friday, April 22, 2022
1:00 PM CDT
Live Stream
Preservation Hall Racine
740 Lake Avenue
Racine, WI 53403

Gathering

Friday, April 22, 2022
2:00 PM to 6:00 PM CDT
Preservation Hall Racine
740 Lake Avenue
Racine, WI 53403

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin
1624 Yout Street
Racine, WI 53404
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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After a long and brave fight against a vicious lung disease, Donny Lotharius passed away at Ascension All Saints on his 68th birthday with his wife by his side.

Donny was born in Racine, Wisconsin to Leo and Sophie Lotharius and grew up on Racine’s north side in a home right next to the Racine Zoo. Proud of his Italian and Catholic heritage, Donny attended St. John Nepomuk elementary school and graduated from St. Catherine’s High School in 1972. During these years, he developed so many of the traits that remained with him throughout his life: a belief in the importance of working hard in everything he did; a respect for the dignity of everyone he came to know; a ready smile and infectious laugh; and a commitment to working for a better world.

Donny was a quintessential Wisconsinite but with a Yooper twist. He loved to hunt and fish - mostly in the upper Peninsula;( the birthplace of his parents and home to his sister and her family). He loved the Packers, the Brewers, the Bucks and the Badgers. He took pride in his home and was forever taking care of his yard. He loved to golf and loved even more the time with friends each week after golf league telling stories and reliving golf shots. All who knew him would agree that he was kind, gentle and fun. They would also say that he was a steadfast and loyal friend.

Donny’s work career began when he was 16 when, while still in high school, he took an after-school job at a northside manufacturing company. As soon as he graduated from St. Catherine’s, he took a job at Chrysler in Kenosha where he worked for nearly 20 years until it closed. He then was hired by SC Johnson as a line associate at Waxdale where he remained until he retired in 2018.

It was early in his time at SC Johnson that Donny met the one true love of his life, Dawn Casperson. They have been together since 1998 and built a wonderful life together. Their home was always a warm and inviting place for friends and family to gather.

There were other defining passions in Donny’s life as well. Music – in high school, Donny learned to play the guitar and became one of the central (and founding) members of a rock and roll band called Blueberry Hill. Friendships made there continue to this day. Politics – from local to national, Donny believed that citizens are called upon to be engaged in building a “more perfect union” and he did his part to achieve that end. Compassion for others – Donny believed in helping those who needed help and a second chance. Over the years, he supported many organizations and causes but the one that may have most touched his heart was the work of Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin. Their “tiny house” program was all the more special to him because it was on the grounds of the former Teamster union hall, an organization that’s Donny’s dad served as president for 25 years.

Donny is survived by his wife, Dawn Lotharius (nee Casperson); son, William Lotharius; step- son Shane (Cheyenne) Harmon; and step- daughter Melissa Harmon. Donny is further survived by his sister Judy (David) Skog and two special nieces, Donna (Dick) Lessor and Jill Johnsen. In addition, Donny is survived by cousins, great nephews, and countless special friends that were like extended family to he and Dawn.

Donny was preceded in death by his parents Sophie and Leo Lotharius, and by his brother Howard Lotharius.

A special thank you goes out to the numerous friends and family members who supported Donny and Dawn on this journey. In particular, the family wants to thank the Cardiac 5th floor staff at Ascension Hospital – All Saints for their outstanding care and extraordinary compassion during his final 2+ week stay.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, April 22, 2022, at Preservation Hall Racine, 740 Lake Avenue. Visitation from be 11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. A Service will follow at 1pm that will feature music, pictures, and many stories. At Donny’s request, everyone attending is asked to wear their favorite sports memorabilia, music/concert shirts, or Hawaiian attire. Finally, a gathering will follow the service until 6pm. In lieu of flowers, gifts to the Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin in Donny’s memory will be appreciated.

The service will be live streamed and may be viewed by going to the funeral home website, select Donny's page, select service, and select live stream.

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