Donald Creedy

Donald W. Creedy, 56 - On January 13, 2017, Don sailed off into the sunset finally free of the frontotemporal dementia that took him from us gradually over the past 3 years.

Don was born in Rhinelander, WI on June 12, 1960 the youngest of 6 children to Mildred and Lester Creedy. He grew up in Sayner and Black Creek, WI and graduated from Seymour High School in 1978. Don was a Boy Scout throughout his youth and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. After high school he followed in the footsteps of both older brothers to attend UW-Madison and graduated in 1982 with a B.S. in journalism. He then spent several years living in Vail where he worked the night audit to have his days free to ski and hike. When he returned to Madison he began his 23 years of Wisconsin state service, spending one year at the Department of Revenue and then at UW-Madison’s Division of Continuing Studies where he worked until his retirement in 2014. It was at work where he met Moira when she was hired to work in the same office in 1997. He wasted little time in asking her out and the rest is history. They were married on August 4, 2001 at Grace Episcopal Church in Madison. Don went on to pursue his love of photography at Madison Area Technical College and graduated in 2004. In addition to photography, Don had many other interests. He became a pilot and enjoyed flying with friends and family to various WI airports for fly-in breakfasts. He loved to sail and scuba dive. A huge bluegrass fan, Don owned several string instruments and got his musical start teaching himself to play guitar. Don loved to bike and rode to work almost every day. As a family Don, Moira, and Henry, loved biking, skiing, golfing, and travel. The summer after Don’s diagnosis, the family took a trip to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons that turned out to be their last big family adventure.

He leaves behind his wife Moira Kelley, son Henry at home, siblings Beverly Mason (Florida), Elizabeth Weaver (Appleton), Richard (Montana), Carl (Beloit), brother-in-law William Coffelt (California), sister-in-law Heidi Kelley and brother-in-law Ken Betsalel (North Carolina), step mother-in-law Maxine Kelley (Manitowoc), several nieces and nephews, and pets Willie and TMax.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Roberta Coffelt, nephew Daniel Weaver, brother-in-law Paul Weaver, and father-in-law David Kelley.

Thank you to the staff at Fountainhead Homes Hammersley House, Agrace Hospice - especially Brian and Michele, Dr. Lorna Belsky, the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin - especially the young onset support group facilitator and members, our current and former Division of Continuing Studies and Adult Career and Special Student Services family, Grace Episcopal Church, and many other family and friends who provided support in the way of meals, yard cleanup, child care, pet care, transportation, comic relief, and shoulders to cry on.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Don’s memory to the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin http://www.alzwisc.org/ or the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration http://www.theaftd.org/

A service and celebration of Don’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 20 at Grace Episcopal Church, 116 W. Washington Ave. Visitation will be from 1p.m. until the time of service.

To view and sign the guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com