Donald Erstad

Donald William Erstad passed away peacefully at his home in Burnett, WI on April 28, 2026. He was born in Madison, Wisconsin in 1950 to Einar and Jennie (Manki) Erstad. He was the youngest of seven children and grew up on the family farm. He went to Wangness School, a one-room schoolhouse through eighth grade. He was a member of the last class to graduate from Wangness in 1964. Don graduated from DeForest High School in 1968. He was very involved in athletics and lettered in football, wrestling, baseball, and track. He was a conference champion wrestler and was named to the all-conference football team.

After high school, Don attended UW-LaCrosse for two years. He was drafted into the Army in 1970 and served during the Vietnam War. He stayed in the states serving as a chaplain’s assistant. Whenever asked about his service, he always said, “I was lucky.”

After leaving the Army, Don worked as a bartender at Tony Frank’s in Madison. He met a waitress named Jane there in 1974, and they hit it off. Don married Jane Kuenzi on May 17, 1975, and they were married for 50 years.

Don and Jane moved to Arlington when Don began working at the UW-Madison Poultry Research Farm. Don worked and lived on the farm for 30 years while he and Jane raised their two daughters. He retired in 2006.

Don also had a second job for many years delivering pizza for Tony’s Restaurant and then Pizza Hut, both in DeForest. He always said his second job was also for his “Badger fund.”

Don was a lifelong Badger fan and arguably one of the most knowledgeable and loyal. His “Badger fund” helped him hold Badger football and basketball season tickets for over 30 years. He suffered through many years of sub-par Wisconsin Badger football and was ecstatic when they went to the Rose Bowl in 1993. He and Jane went to the Rose Bowl that year because he said, “They will probably never go again!” He was delighted to be wrong and took each of his daughters to a Rose Bowl as well in 1999 and 2000. 

He held what became known as The Erstad Badger Tailgate Party, every home football Saturday, somewhere off of Regent street for around 20 years. To find it, you just had to follow the laughter and the line of friends and family that visited over the years. There was no one better to experience game day with than Don. He had a gift for bringing people together and creating a warm, inviting atmosphere, even if it was a small patch of grass or the corner of a parking lot.

As outwardly enthusiastic and devoted as Don was about the Badgers and sports, he was even more devoted and enthusiastic about his family, his faith, and his community.

His parents were immigrants from Norway and Finland, and he was very proud of his Norwegian and Finnish heritage. He visited Norway twice and Finland once to connect with his family in both countries. It was rare for him to miss a family event, whether it was the Christmas lutefisk and lefse gathering, birthday lunches with his siblings, or the marriage of one of his many nieces or nephews.

He spent many hours of his retirement helping to care for his two granddaughters, attending any event they were involved in, and giving them countless happy memories. Everyone in his family was important to him.

Don was always involved in the church and served on church council for Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church in DeForest, Wisconsin and First Lutheran Church in Beaver Dam, Wi. He also volunteered for many years for the DeForest Food Pantry and in recent years delivered Meals on Wheels in the Beaver Dam area.

Don made friends wherever he went. If you knew Don, you knew his welcoming warmth, his contagious laughter, and his generous spirit. He was always there, behind the scenes, supporting and cheering us all on. His arms were always there to catch us and his steady presence was the rock we could all lean on. He will be missed more than words can say.

Don is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jane; daughters, Stephanie (Dan Peterson) Erstad of Milwaukee, and Valerie Butler of Sun Prairie; granddaughters, Abigail and Elizabeth Butler; sister, Marilyn Maurer; sisters-in-law, Ann (Mike) Schelter, Alice Erstad, Beverly Erstad, Kathy Erstad, Ruth Erstad, and Carol Erstad; brother-in-law Ben (Debbie) Kuenzi; and the father of his granddaughters, Nicholas Butler; and many nieces and nephews; and all who loved him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Einar and Jennie Erstad; his brothers Richard (Dick), David, Clifton, Errol, and Dennis; and his brother-in-law, Jerry Maurer.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church, 820 River Road, DeForest; a visitation will be held from 9:00AM until time of service on Saturday at the church.

The family would like to thank Hillside Homecare and Hospice of Beaver Dam for their excellent care and support. To view his obituary and leave a memory, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com


Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Windsor/DeForest Chapel
6924 Lake Road
608-846-4250