Obituary for Donald Bina

Donald Duane Bina, 91, of St. Joseph Ridge was born and passed away on his beloved family farm where he resided most of his life. Born to Wenzel and Georgina (Arenz) Bina on March 14, 1932, he grew up living a life full of farming, family, friends, baseball, hunting, fishing and public service. He always believed in lending a helping hand to relatives, neighbors and even strangers. You could frequently find him engaged in conversations no matter where he went. Often times he made friends in the most unpredictable places whether it was with two police officers in full riot gear in New York City’s Times Square, a gondola driver in Las Vegas, a fellow farmer at a gas station in South Dakota or a fan sitting next to him at a baseball game. You could always count on Don Bina to share a smile and a story with a stranger. He never met a microphone he didn’t like and had no fear of public speaking. He had a unique ability to listen to both sides of an issue without making judgement, a quality that garnered much respect even from those whose ideas, issues or opinions differed from his.

Don attended St. Joseph Ridge Catholic School and graduated from Aquinas High School. On September 3, 1952 he married Elaine Wuensch and they celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2022. Don farmed in Bangor before entering the Army in 1955. He completed his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO and attended topographical/aerial mapping school at Fort Belvoir, VA. Elaine and his oldest daughter joined him to live in Virginia before Don was assigned to the Far East Command in Japan as a map compiler and instructor. At the end of his military service Don returned to the La Crosse area. He and Elaine were blessed with twins and moved the family to Minneapolis for Don’s new job with the Mark Hurd Aerial Photography and Survey Company. Don and Elaine made lifelong friends there. They added 2 more children to their family before returning to the La Crosse area in the middle of a huge snowstorm on March 1, 1962, the day their 6th child was born. Don was hired to run a farm just above Coon Valley for a local businessman, but in 1965 Wenzel and Georgina decided to retire from their St. Joseph Ridge family farm and sold it to Don and Elaine. Before moving, they were blessed with baby number 7.

During his years back on the Bina farm, the family welcomed 2 more children to make it an even 10. Don decided to run for West Salem School board and served for 15 years; 8 as president. Through his involvement in the La Crosse County Farmers Union he and Elaine met Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter at a picnic at Veteran’s Park in West Salem. That relationship was cemented by the fact that both couples were small town farmers. When the Carters went to the White House, they invited Don and Elaine to their Inaugural Balls as well as a later visit to the White House where Don & Elaine presented a box of locally made cheese to their Presidential friends. Don’s love for community service was born. He went on to serve on The Wisconsin Farm Service Agency, The Wisconsin Agricultural Stabilization & Conservation Service, The Wisconsin Land & Water Conservation Board, President of the Newburg Corner Cheese Factory, Viroqua Whey Plant, The Rural Life Committee for the Diocese of La Crosse, St. Joseph Ridge Parish Council & Choir, The Driftless Area Initiative, The Governor’s Commission on State & Local Relations & Financing, The Wisconsin Farmers Union Milk Marketing Committee, The DNR Committee to Review Administrative Rules of Non-Point Funding, CESA Board of Control, La Crosse County Dairy Promotions Committee, La Crosse County Ag Society and the La Crosse County Board of Supervisors from 1990-2012.

In their retirement Don and Elaine enjoyed traveling with family and friends and hanging out with their 23 grandchildren and (soon to be) 31 great grandchildren. They were familiar faces at school programs, birthday parties, plays, concerts, parades, church programs and sporting events for both grandkids and great grandkids. That booming voice cheering, ”Hey batter, batter batter” or “Hubba Hubba!”....yup, that was Don!

Don is preceded in death by his wife Elaine, his parents Wenzel & Georgina (Arenz) Bina, in-laws Edgar & Elsie (Hohlfeld) Wuensch, an infant son Stephen Donald Bina in 1953; granddaughter Elaina Paraskevoulakos, son-in-law David Amborn, sister Marcie Hundt; sisters and brothers-in- law Bob Nolden, Dave Hundt, Jim Lichtie, Ken Severson, Therese Bina and Garnet Bina; also, special family & friends Dick & Pat Shupien and Elinor & Edgar Klein.

He is survived by his children; Karen Gilster, Randy (Lori) Bina, Nancy (Ed) Pilmonas, Laurie (Scott) Perry, Kevin (Ann) Bina, Diane (Tim) Groth, Steven (Kelly) Bina, Janice (Jerry) Seeger, Lisa (Jim Bruehlman) Bina, Stacey (Mike) Norris. He is also survived by his siblings Robert Bina, Joyce Ann Nolden, Dan Bina; and in-laws Jim (Shirley) Wuensch, Chuck (Carol) Wuensch, Mary Lichtie and Gloria Severson.

His legacy continues with 23 grandchildren: Norman (Chelsea) Gilster, Ethan Sobkowiak, Andy (Julia Callaghan) Sobkowiak; Ben (Katie) Bina, Alex (Anna) Bina; David (Emily) Adams, Lee (Tricia) Adams; Cassie (Loren) Carrell, Ross (Cara Cook) Perry, Rachel (Kevan) La Porte; Whitney (Danny) Ditlevson, Jacob (Emily) Bina; Audra (Adam) Jandt, Trevor (Samantha Strom) Groth; Caralyn (Ben) Mulder, Saphra Bina, Christopher (Elizabeth) Konze (step grandson); Douglas (Lizette) Steiger, Justin (Kayla) Steiger; Taylor Pataska, Stuart (Anna Paraskevoulakos) Pataska; Derek (Madie Ward) Norris and Natalie Norris. Great grandchildren blessed his final years: Hazel, Grover and Laken; Charlie, Callen, Quinn and Luke; Emma, Eli and Mason; Samuel, Nora, Perry and Eddison; Connor, Peyton, Owen and Maxwell; Stevie and Fallon: Bronson and Cooper; Jude, Elliott, Ivy, Emery and Emerson; Rosalie and Kosta; plus two additional great grandchildren to be added to the family in 2024.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at St. Joseph Ridge Catholic Church. Burial will follow with military honors in the church cemetery. A visitation will be held at the church on Friday, March 15, 2024 from 3:30-7 p.m. concluding with the Rosary at 7 p.m. A visitation will also be held prior to Mass from 9:45-10:45 a.m. on Saturday, March 16. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be donated, by the family, to Don’s favorite charities.

The family would like to thank the special people at Mayo Hospice especially Matt, Miranda, Lesa and Gloria. They became dear friends to the entire family over the months of visits! Thank you to Father Bijou of St. Joseph Ridge Parish, Deacon Bob Zietlow and Joe Zietlow (Don’s godson) for their participation in the service and to Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory for their special guidance to the family. A complete obituary may be found and online condolences can be offered at www.fredricksonfuneralhomes.com

Dad, you taught us to never judge a book by its cover, to treat all people with dignity and respect, to always help those in need and to never expect anything in return. You believed in the gift of communication even when it meant cussing at the cows, yelling at umpires for bad calls or telling a famous hunting story. You instilled in us the value of hard work and the rewards (“If you get the work done in the tobacco field, we’ll go to the Bangor fireworks.”) You whistled or sang when you were in a great mood and your voice is imprinted on our souls. You loved us all unconditionally and showed your grandkids and great grandkids how to laugh out loud at the funny parts of a movie. The impact you had on all of us affects who we have become as people and through us your story lives on. We will miss you every day but we know that you are smiling and having fun playing cards with our family members and your friends in heaven. Above all, Mom is radiant because that guy from the ridge that she fell in love with so many years ago, has once again held out his hand and asked, “Elaine, can I have this dance?” Dad, you indeed shared a dance with her that lasted the “rest of your lives!” We love and miss you both!!!