Donald Simonet

Donald T. Simonet, 76, formerly of Green Bay, entered the Kingdom of Heaven on Monday, November 20, 2017. There he is reunited with his parents Clarence and Lillian (Warner) Simonet, his brothers Robert Clarence, James Frances and Roger Emmanuel, brothers-in-law Charles Green and John David Carre; sisters-in-law Laverne (LaRoche) Simonet and Elizabeth (Jansma) Carre; all his aunts and uncles and special friend Ella Smetana.

Don was born in Green Bay on April 15, 1941 where he attended Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School and Our Lady of Premontre High School. After high school Don enlisted in the United States Navy, serving from 1960 until 1964 on the US East Coast, Bermuda and Cuba. While on active duty he met the love of his life and wife of 56 years, Sara Elizabeth (Carre). Together they had two children, Kathleen Marie and Donald Thomas, Jr (Lynn Salesky) before returning to Wisconsin and residing in Green Bay. When his job as a Nabisco Sales Representative transferred him, Don moved his family to Marinette in 1968, where he lived until his death. After his retirement from Nabisco Don worked at Lee’s Family Foods in Peshtigo where he remained employed until his cancer diagnosis.

Don is further survived by the light of his life, his only grandchild Gwen Marie Simonet of Green Bay and special friend Jordan Neff; his sister Patricia (Simonet) Green of Appleton, and her children Ann Louise (James Roche) of Milwaukee, goddaughter Mary Elizabeth (Robert Bricco) of Stoughton and Charles Andrew (Brenda Wendt) of Appleton, and their children.

Don was an avid Packers fan, growing up in the Three Corners neighborhood when the team played at City Stadium. He would tell stories of selling parking spots at his parents house on Grove Street for 25 cents, then walking to the stadium with friends to climb the trees and watch the games free, and of playing catch with some of the players. He recalled a game of catch with his favorite player number 18, Tobin Rote. He also attended the Ice Bowl with one of his best friends. Though stories about that game are sketchy due to the amount of schnapps drank in order to keep warm.

He converted his wife to a Packers fan as well as raising his kids to be Packers fans. Not an easy task in the 1970's.

Don enjoyed reading, spending weekends at his trailer in Lakewood in the summers and spending time doting on his granddaughter. He also enjoyed many summer days and evenings sitting on his patio enjoying a few cold beers.

There will be a Mass of Christian burial at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic church on Wednesday November 29, 2017 at 1 PM, with a brief visitation prior to the Mass, followed by burial with military honors at Allouez Catholic Cemetery.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to all who aided to make Don's last months and passing as comfortable as possible. This includes friends Mark and Tarrie Nordgren, Carlin and Debbie Van Larhoven, Al and Kim McClain, Melanie and Frank Smetena, Teri Johnson and Kitty Kehoe as well as Dr's Kennedy, Hamden and El-Kady, the Bay Area Medical Center ER, ICU and Cancer Center staff, especially Dawn, Rennes Healthcare and Rehab West especially Olivia, and the staff and nurses at Heartland Hospice, especially Jennifer B, Lindsay and Sabine and all the great folks at Lee's Family Foods for their continued friendship, especially Jeff, Terry, and Dennis, and the staff at Hansen-Onion-Martell funeral home in Marinette and Malcore Funeral Home in Green Bay for their help during this difficult time.

Don gave generously to his favorite charities, the Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans, and St Jude's Cancer Research Center. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you donate to your favorite charity in his name.