Background:
Donnie was born in a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
called West Allis. He was born in his house. As a boy he attended grade school in West
Allis through the second grade. Around 1940 his parents divorced and his mother did not
have the means to support them. The County took Donnie, his brother Billy, and sister
Nancy to the Milwaukee County Orphanage.
After about 15 months at the orphanage, Louise and Julie Rose (Donnies
Aunts) were awarded custody of the children and they took them to Curryville, Missouri to
live with them and the childrens grandfather George Sanford Rose.
In 1946 Donnie moved to Toro Canyon, Santa Barbara, California to live with his
Uncle George Harve Rose and his wife Margaret. There he attended school and graduated from
the eighth grade at Carpinteria Union Elementary School. He was selected to speak at his
graduation. Following his graduation he stayed on at his uncles lemon ranch through
the summer.
Following that summer he moved back to Milwaukee where he was reunited with his
brother, sister, mother, and his new stepfather, Norbert Richertz. Norbert and Mabel had
also had a child of their own in 1947 named Marsha. Once back in Milwaukee, Donnie
attended West Division High School but left during his sophomore year to work full time.
He became a Carpenters Apprentice and also attended vocational school for about a year
learning his new trade. Because of carpentry work being too seasonal, he took a job with
Solar Optical Company where he ground eyeglass lenses for about a year. While working for
Solar Optical Company, Donnies friend Danny, introduced him to Judy
Gableman, a
friend of Dannys girlfriend.
Donnie was 17 and Judy was 16. They dated for several months until Donnies
older brother Billy came home on leave from the Army where he was the lead trombonist for
the Army Band. He asked Donnie to move away with him to ElPaso, Texas where he was
stationed. Donnie left with his brother.
While in ElPaso, Donnie secretly lived on Post with his brother and the other
band members. He corresponded continually with his girlfriend Judy, back in Milwaukee. He
took a job in El Paso as an Electrical Apprentice with Clarkson & Baer Electric
Company. When he got enough money together he mailed Judy an engagement ring and asked her
to marry him; she accepted.
Judy took a train alone from
Milwaukee to El Paso which was involved in three separate accidents during the long
trip. Some People were killed in one of the accidents, but Judy was unharmed. She arrived
in El Paso and the two were married at St. Patrick's
Cathedral. It was a small wedding
attended by Donnies mother, stepfather, brother, sister and stepsister, Billys
wife, Yvonne (Thresher), all of whom arrived shortly after Judy. Billy and Yvonne, Don and
Judy, and Nancy all decided to share a house in Ysletta, Texas.
The three girls worked next door to the service station at a Chinese food,
drive-in restaurant. The only girls employed were the "three Rose girls". They
each took their turns at being carhops, waitressing inside, and working the fountain. The
two Chinese brothers who owned the business were quite pleased with the Rose girls and
later stated that the business boomed because of them. The restaurant was located on the
edge of town, near Fort Bliss Army Base and Briggs Air Force Base.
In August, 1951, Judy became pregnant and was ill most of the time. So, Don and
Judy decided to head north. They got a ride with Army buddy, Duane Delveaux, in his 1932
Packard Coupe. He lived in Oskaloosa, Iowa so they stayed on a farm belonging to
Judys Grandma, Elizabeth Schroeder, in Ossian, Iowa. Later they moved to West Allis,
Wisconsin and lived with Judys parents. Their first child, Laura Gene was born on
May 4, 1952. In 1953 Judy was again pregnant and they moved into their own apartment. Don
now worked for Sterling Motor Truck Company as an Assembler, where he stayed for two
years. Later he got a job with Wilke Dairy Company delivering milk to residences and
businesses. As a new employee with Wilke he was given routes on the rough side of
Milwaukee.
He soon left Wilke and drove truck for various companies for a few years. Around
1957 Skil Corporation hired him. He reparied electric and pneumatic tools for about two
years. While at Skil, Don and Judy bought their first home at 139 S. 79th
Street in Milwaukee. By September 1959, Don left Skil Corporation and started what would
be a long career in the insurance industry.
He worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. His new job required a high
school diploma so Don took the Equivalency Test at the University of Wisconsin, which he
passed with a rating equivalent to a second year college student.
As Dons career moved upward he was required to relocate numerous times. In
1961 he went to work for Rural Security Life Insurance Company and moved his family to
Brookfield, Wisconsin. In 1965 they moved to Madison, Wisconsin and in 1966 moved again to
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. By this time Don and Judy had seven children; four boys and three
girls. In 1971 Don was offered a position with Teschner Insurance Agency in Crandon,
Wisconsin. The family moved leaving behind their two oldest children, now both graduated
from high school.
The oldest daughter Laura was a college student and the oldest son Donnie Jr.
had a full-time job in a restaurant. Once in Crandon, Don and Judy decided to build a home
on twenty acres of woods they had purchased. While the building was in progress the family
rented a log cabin on Lake Lucerne. After moving into the new home, Don left Teschner
Insurance and opened his own independent insurance agency where he worked successfully for
many years.
In 1978 Don sold his business and moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan where he
opened a new insurance agency. His older brother Billy lived in Grand Rapids by this time
with his family. Only months after the move, Don and Judy were contacted by his Aunts
Julia Rose and Louise Morris, now living in Arroyo Grande, California. They wanted Don and
Judy to move to Arroyo Grande and help them take care of their fruit ranch. They agreed
and made the move. By this time all of Don and Judys children were adults living on
their own. After arriving in California, Don took a job with Pan American Underwriters
Insurance Company as a Customer Service Representative.
In 1995 Donnie retired from the insurance business at the age of 62 and is
enjoying retirement with his wife Judy. They purchased a large recreational vehicle and
spend much of their time camping in northern California where they fish for trout in
mountain streams and enjoy hiking. Yearly they pull their trailer across country and visit
their children in Wisconsin and Kansas.