Donald M. Joras Sr., lovingly known as “Cowboy” by friends and family, passed away peacefully on Saturday April 26.
He was born in Chicago, Illinois, to the late Edward and Mary Brandt Joras. On May 16, 1956, he married Dorothy A. Minarcini. They made their home in Chicago until they moved their family to Powers Lake, WI., in 1968.
Donald was a veteran and served in the Army, Air Force and Air Force Reserves until the mid-1960s. He was among the initial members of the Air Force when it was formed in 1947. He served in Japan and Korea as well as in the United States. His final posting before retirement from the service was at O’Hare Air Reserve station in Chicago.
He donated many artifacts from the early days of the Air Force to the U.S. Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he was interviewed as part of the museum’s ongoing oral history project.
Cowboy enjoyed bowling, spending summers in his motor home in Kewaunee, WI, and watching sporting events of his grandchildren. He also enjoyed reading history and historical novels, as well as building model military aircraft and ships.
He followed current events and rarely backed away from rousing discussions on any topic, but he was a teddy bear at heart. He loved the countryside but, to our knowledge, never herded cattle.
Donald is survived by his three daughters: Rita Marksteiner (Tony Kaczmarek), Presque Isle, Mary (John) Vozel, Burlington, Diane (Brent) Brenner, Silver Lake; one son Ed (Jo Hansen), Basehor, KS, and by 12 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy A. Joras, March 7, 2005, and one son, Donald M. Joras Jr., May 10, 1992, his brother George E. Joras and sister Sr. Rita Joras.
Funeral Service will be held on Friday May 9, 2025, at 1:00PM at the Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral Home 620 Legion Dr. Twin Lakes, WI. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Johns Catholic Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11:00AM until the time of services at the funeral home.
We want to thank Aurora at Home Care and Hospice, and Dr. Kristin Cassidy and her staff for their compassionate care, comfort and gentle guidance.
Memorials may be made to Fellow Mortals Wildlife Hospital, Lake Geneva, or Kindred Kitties, Kenosha.
