Donald D. Stroot — Wabasha

Donald D. Stroot, 87, of Wabasha, died Saturday, April 4, 2015, at St. Elizabeth's Health Care Center in Wabasha.

He was born Aug. 18, 1927, in Wabasha, the son of Lawrence and Caroline (Roemer) Stroot. He attended St. Felix High School and graduated from high school in Minneapolis. He then attended the University of Minnesota. He then served in the U.S. Navy's SeaBees in Okinawa during World War II. After his service years, he was employed in Minneapolis for nearly 40 years as a manager of private clubs and country clubs. He retired in 1988 and moved to Bayfield, Wis., where he purchased a building and operated it as "Vincent Taylor's" inn. He suffered a stroke in 1995 and moved to Wabasha to recuperate. In 1997, he moved back to Bayfield, and in 2002, he moved back to Wabasha, residing at St. Elizabeth's Assisted Living Apartments.

He was a member of St. Felix Catholic Church in Wabasha, and a member of the Wabasha American Legion Post 50. Don began painting in his 80s. He enjoyed making greeting cards of his paintings. He mailed or gave away countless numbers of his cards. Don also was an avid traveler. He like to say he had been around the world 2½ times. He had a longtime friendship with actress/comedienne Phyllis Diller.

Don is survived by brothers, Eugene Stroot, of Wabasha, and Robert (Jane) Stroot, of Minneapolis; sisters, Margie Peterson, of Windom, and Patricia (Ray) King, of Eau Claire, Wis.; many nieces and nephews; as well as many lifelong friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Caroline Stroot, brothers, Lawrence, Duane and Gerald Stroot, and sisters, Laura Stroot, Shirley Wittenbreer, Darlene Ausmussen and Carol Meyer.

A memorial Mass will be offered Monday, April 13, at 10 a.m. at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center Chapel, with the Rev. Msgr. Thomas Cook officiating. Interment will be in St. Elizabeth's Cemetery. Military rites will be performed by Wabasha American Legion Post 50 and Burkhardt-Roemer VFW Post 4086. Family and friends may call one hour before the service at the chapel.

Memorials are preferred to St. Elizabeth's Community Foundation, 1200 Fifth Grant Blvd. W., Wabasha, MN 55981.

The Abbott Funeral Home of Wabasha is in charge of arrangements. abbottfh.com