Donald G. Hinton

HINTON, Donald G.

Donald G Hinton of La Crosse, passed away peacefully on May 12, 2017 surrounded by his family.

Don was born in Shelbyville, IL on April 14, 1936 to Glen Hinton and Ann (Gebhart) Hinton.  He eloped with Nancy (Casstevens) on February 18, 1956.

Don was a founding member of the La Crosse Wheelman, long time President of the Coulee Region Audubon Society and Radio Control Model Airplane Club, member of: the Hixon Forest Bicentennial Trail Committee, Lions Club, Mississippi Valley Archeology Center, and the La Crosse Rifle Club.  He worked for the Idaho Fish and Game Department in trout research, hatching and planting.  He also worked as the Fire Warden for Potlatch Timber Protective Association.  Don worked in the Purchasing Department of Trane Company for 4 years.  He taught and coached at Elk River High School in Elk River ID, Whitehall High School, Cathedral School, Longfellow Jr High and taught Science and Biology at Central High.  Don also taught rifle cartridge reloading at WWTI.

He never stopped “teaching”, it was who he was.  He always had a smile and a joke.  Once you met Don, you never forgot him.

Don is survived by his wife Nancy, sons Ben (Kari), Dan (Kay) and daughter Dawn (Jody) Sonsalla; grandchildren:  Tom, Amelia, Drew (Samantha), Ben (fiancée Grace), Alex, Gus, and Jim Hinton, Royal and Remi Sonsalla; step-grandchildren: Andrew and Matthew Hetzel; great grandchildren:  Alonna and Kenton; brothers Clete (Joan) and Larry (Carol) Hinton; brother-in-law Glen Casstevens; sisters in law: Geneva Gulso and Jane Ferguson.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be on Saturday, May 20, 2017, from 9:30am to 12:00pm, with funeral services starting at 12:00pm in Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home, 1501 West Ave. South, La Crosse.

Memorials can be sent to National Diabetes Association.