Al Donlin, 99, of Miller, died Monday, June 14 at the Courtyard Villa Assisted Living Center. Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 18 at St. Ann Catholic Church in Miller with Fr. Chester Murtha officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, June 17 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. wake service all at St. Ann Catholic Church. Rembold Funeral Home of St. Lawrence has been entrusted with Als arrangements.

The second of thirteen children, Al was born June 1, 1911 to Eugene and Matilda (Schaefer) in Spring Township, Hand County South Dakota. He attended school through the 8th grade in the Polo area. In 1926 the family moved to the Wilson place, which is near present day Lake Louise. At that time he worked for Herman Steinlighter and James Egan farming and ranching.

On December 12, 1942 Al was inducted into the Army as a truck driver. He served in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy where he earned three service medals, a Good Conduct Medal, and his Driver and Mechanic Badge. He was Honorably Discharged on the 15th of December, 1945.

After the war Al returned to the family farm in Hand County where he continued to farm with his brothers until his retirement. Al raised cattle, did contract trucking, and had a long time interest in horses and rodeo. In his later years, Al enjoyed working with a team of horses, fixing up wagons, and getting them ready for the next parade.

Family was important to Al and he enjoyed spending time with all of his nieces and nephews. Al had a wonderful memory along with a quick wit and could always be counted on to tell a good story or fill you in on the history of his younger days working or moonshining around Hand County. In his later years, Al enjoyed driving around to check on the crops, visit with the different implement dealers, and to just keep tabs on what was happening in the county.

Survivors include one brother Louis Donlin of Miller; three sisters, Claire Sweeney of Arizona, Betty Queen of Maryland, Mary Hafner of Michigan; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great nephews.

Al was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, Edie Schroeder, Vera Donlin, and Irene Esper, and five brothers, Bert, Joe, Mike, Chuck, and Paul.

Als quick wit will be missed by his nieces and nephews, all of his many friends, and anyone who has come to know Uncle Al.

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Aloysius Al George Donlin, 99, of Miller
Posted: Thursday, Jun 17th, 2010

Aloysius Al George Donlin, 99, of Miller died Monday, June 14, 2010, at Courtyard Villa Assisted Living in Miller.

His funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Ann Catholic Church in Miller with the Rev. Chester Murtha officiating. Visitation will be today from 5 to 7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. wake service at the church. He will be interred in St. Ann Cemetery.

Aloysius George Donlin was born June 1, 1911, to Eugene and Matilda (Schaefer) Donlin in Spring Township, Hand County. He attended school through the eighth grade in the Polo area.

In 1926 they moved to a farm near Lake Louise. He worked for area farmers, farming and ranching. On Dec. 12, 1942, he was inducted into the Army as a truck driver. He served in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. He was discharged Dec. 15, 1945.

He returned to the family farm where he farmed with his brothers. He raised cattle, did contract trucking and had an interest in horses and rodeo. He enjoyed working with a team of horses, fixing up wagons and getting them ready for the next parade.

He is survived by a brother, Louis of Miller; three sisters, Claire Sweeney of Arizona, Betty Queen of Maryland and Mary Hafner of Michigan; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by three sisters, Edie Schroeder, Vera Donlin and Irene Esper; and five brothers, Bert, Joe, Mike, Chuck and Paul.

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