It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Donald James Sebetic, who left us peacefully, but much too soon, on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the age of 71.
Donald was born Klaus Kurt Bein on March 5, 1955, in Dortmund, Germany. The youngest by five minutes of identical twin boys born to mother Helga Therese Rusche, who passed away after his birth, and father Max Kurt Bein, who placed both boys up for adoption. Don was always quick to share with friends and family that he was just “a poor orphan child raised on powdered milk.” Don and his twin brother were both adopted from the Elisabeth Kinderheim Orphanage and left Germany on April 30, 1957. They were brought to New York and admitted through the U.S. Department of Immigrations on May 28, 1957, then to Kenosha by loving parents Vincent and Lucille Beulah (Hembrook) Sebetic. On November 16, 1959, through Kenosha County Circuit Court, he became a Naturalized Citizen, and his name was changed to Donald James Sebetic.
Don attended Kenosha schools, Bain and Harvey Elementary, Washington Junior High and was a 1973 graduate of Mary D. Bradford High School. In September 1973, he joined the United States Marine Corps becoming a Vietnam Era Veteran and went through boot camp in the buddy system with friend and fellow Kenoshan Tom Smith in Platoon 3090 at MCRD San Diego, California. Don was quick to share that was the last he saw of his buddy Tommy as they were deployed to distant and separate locations. Also in Platoon 3090 was the late Leon Spinks, who later beat Muhammad Ali as a professional boxer in 1978.
His career in the USMC was as a Personnel Admin Chief, providing administrative services to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, (1stMAW), Marine Aircraft Group-15 (MAG-15) and Headquarters & Maintenance Squadron-15 (H&MS-15), along with units VMFA-115 and VMFA-232, Iwakuni, Japan. While with the Wing, he received a Meritorious Award for his outstanding attention to administrative details. He also was an Administrative and Unit Diary Instructor at the Personnel Administration School located at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), Parris Island, South Carolina, where he was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant (E-5). Every rank Don attained in the service was meritoriously promoted except for Lance Corporal which he was for only one and half months. He attained the rank of Sergeant E-5 in under twenty-one months of service which was unheard of at the time unless your service was on the battlefield. Don was additionally awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Mast, National Defense Medal and Rifle Expert Badge. Don served honorably in the United States Marine Corps from September 1973 until his discharge in September of 1977. His time in the military shaped him into the strong, compassionate man remembered by his family and friends. He brought a steadfast commitment to everything he did, serving as an inspiration to those around him.
Don attended the University of California, Gateway Technical College and Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia. Don was a law enforcement officer for the Silver Lake Police Department (1978-1980), Pleasant Prairie Police Department (1980-1982) and the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department (1978-2008), starting as a jail guard and becoming a deputy sheriff (1982) and detective (1993), where he sought as much additional training as he could to specialize in numerous fields of law enforcement and criminal investigation. Don was proud to participate in and was recognized for his years of service to the Deputy Friendly Safety Poster Banquet. He retired with the rank of detective in March 2008.
Prior to retiring from law enforcement, he became a Certified Fire Investigator and worked with and provided training in his areas of expertise with the U.S. Department of Justice ATF, Wisconsin Department of Justice Fire Marshal’s Office, Wisconsin Fire Fighters Association as well as sharing his passion for photography, criminal and fire investigative knowledge to numerous law enforcement and fire departments throughout the State of Wisconsin. He completed a fire investigation training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center for the insurance industry, which was reported by FLETC as being one of the best presentations they ever had. Don was also an adjunct instructor at Gateway Technical College, Police and Fire Courses. He was a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) Wisconsin Chapter 25 and was recognized for his unselfishness and disregard for his personal safety in the recognition and removal of an explosive device found near a school building in June 1998. He also taught classes occasionally for the IAAI. Don was a member of the Anti-Vehicle Crime Association of Wisconsin (AVCAW) and received the Ron Aebly Award of Excellence for his superior achievement and high standards. The Racine County Fire Investigation Task Force/Control Unit recognized Don for his dedicated photography work and investigative skills towards finding “the truth” in the fire scenes he assisted the organization with. He was also a proud member of the Vietnam Veterans of America organization. In 2009, he was hired as an investigator for Acuity Mutual Insurance in Sheboygan, WI where he worked in the Special Investigations Unit, for his much-admired boss Michael LaPointe, CFI. After leaving the position with Acuity, Don fully retired in January 2018.
On December 17, 1983, in Genesee Depot, Wisconsin, he married the love of his life, Beverly M. (Pettis). They were blessed to have a wonderful and loving daughter, Brittany A. (Sebetic) Teschler. He is survived by his loving wife, Beverly, his cherished daughter, Brittany (Nick) Teschler, and grandchildren, Vinny and Ellie Teschler who will forever hold his memory in their hearts. Don’s warmth, humor and unwavering support will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Vincent and Lucille Sebetic; his brother, David, Aunt, Myrtle (Hembrook) Foster, who resided with his parents all of his childhood, grandparents, Harry and Olga Mae (Burson) Hembrook and Matto and Theresa Sebetic, along with several other aunts, uncles and cousins.
Private inurnment will be held in Sunset Ridge Memorial Park.
Gathering
DATE:
May 2, 2026 from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Piasecki Funeral Home
3720 39th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53144
Memorial Service
DATE:
May 2, 2026 at 1:30 pm
Piasecki Funeral Home
3720 39th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53144
