Donald Edward Wolters

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Patrick's Parish, the Estherville Public Library, the Regional Wellness Center in Estherville, Avera Holy Family Hospital or the charity of the donor's choice.


Don was a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, physician and avid gardner. His life's journey of over 93 years ended in Estherville, Iowa, on December 2, 2016.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary Margaret Bradley Wolters of Estherville; his son, Peter M. Wolters (Virginia) Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin; daughter, Peggy Bruner (Ed) of Woodruff, Wisconsin; grandchildren, Emily Huffman (Paul) of Chicago, Illinois, Bradley E. Wolters (Kate) of Alexandria, Virginia, Peter E. Wolters (Katie) of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Carrie Waldron of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Sarah Waldron of Fort Collins. He is further survived by great-grandchildren, Madeline, Hannah, and William Huffman, Elizabeth and Anne Wolters and Peter R. Wolters.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Peter M. and Marie Wolters, as well as his two sisters, Rita and Mary Beth.

Don was born September 9, 1923, near Atchison, Kansas. He attended Good Intent School, a one room school with 12 pupils in grades K-8. He then attended Maur Hill High School in Atchison and St. Benedict's College also in Atchison. Like many in his generation he answered his country's call to duty during World War II, serving as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy. At the conclusion of the war he returned to St. Benedict's and graduated in 1947. He then enrolled in the Creighton University School of Medicine and received his Medical Doctor Degree in 1951. He married Mary Margaret Bradley on September 1, 1951, in Salix, Iowa. Upon completion of his internship in 1952, he began practicing in Estherville until his retirement in 1988. He was involved in many civic endeavors including a member and past president of Rotary Club, President of the Estherville Booster's Club, Board of Director's of the Estherville Red Sox Baseball Club and the Board of Directors of Iowa Trust and Savings Bank. He sucessfully ran for multiple terms on the Estherville Parks Commission. His professional accomplishments include serving as an Adjunct Professor for Creighton University School of Medicine Family Practice Program. He also was a board member of the Iowa Foundation For Medical Care and life member of the Iowa Medical Society along with a life member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. In his spare time he was an avid gardner and he never knew a bad day when he was at his beloved "cabin" near Hayward, Wisconsin.

In keeping with his dedication to Medical Profession he donated his body to the Creighton University School of Medicine to help train future physicians.