Donald E. Felmlee

Donald Eugene Felmlee, 90, of Red Wing, died Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Marys Campus in Rochester. Don was born February 10, 1935 in LeSueur, Minnesota, to Roscoe and Mary (McCarthy) Felmlee. After graduating from LeSueur High School in 1952, he enlisted in US Navy, serving until he was honorably discharged. On July 2, 1955 he married Mary Pfarr at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in LeSueur and they made their home in Red Wing. Don had attended barber school and worked as a barber for several years. Don became a firefighter with the Red Wing Fire Department and retired as the assistant fire chief. After his retirement, he became one of the first local Disaster Coordinators, working in various aspects of the community and the nuclear power plant.

He was a member of the Church of St. Joseph, Knights of Columbus, VFW and Leo C. Peterson American Legion Post 54 and the Golden K’s. In his younger years, Don enjoyed riding motorcycle, biking, fishing and boating and had even went sky diving at the age of 50. Spending time at the trailer in Spooner, Wisconsin was something he enjoyed, especially when the grandkids could come, as he loved spending time and making memories with them. Throughout his life, he loved to “tinker”—he was very mechanical and was a self-taught man in many things. He was always a very spiritual man, but especially in more recent years, he found learning and reading about spirituality and the bible to be important to him.

He is survived by 4 children, Michelle Weisen of Red Wing, Michael (Jane) Felmlee of Chanhassen, Joel (Petrona Melgarejo) Felmlee of Roberts, WI and Donna (Dan) Devine of Rochester; 12 grandchildren, Ian Hotchkiss, Lauren (Eric) Titze, Jeff, Charlie (Kelli), Joseph (Lauren), John (Tricia), Steve, Ben (Abby), Sarah and Matthew (Storme) Felmlee, Megan (Tyler) Doyle and Abby (Mark Hovland) Devine; 20 great-grandchildren, Edward, Andrew, George, Edith, Mary, Teddy, Cleo, Lena, Saiah, Oliver, Owen, Vinny, Violet, Nora, Hank Felmlee, Kellan & Graham Doyle and Emerson, Isla and Ellie Titze; daughter-in-law, Terri Felmlee of Rochester and sister, Beverly Almich of LeSueur; brother-in-law, Leroy Pfarr; sister-in-law, Monica Bratsch and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary in 2017; son, Thomas Felmlee; siblings, Ray, Jim and Nancy and a great-granddaughter, Louise Doyle.

Mass of the resurrection will be 11 a.m. Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the Church of St. Joseph with Father Brandon Theisen presiding. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service. Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery with military honors. Arrangements handled by Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel.

The family would like to thank the Red Wing Fire Department and Mayo Clinic Cardiac ICU physicians and staff for their care and honor they showed Don when he needed assistance in recent days.