Donald G. Hinnenkamp, age 82, a native of Melrose, MN, and a longtime Ottertail Lake resident, died of cancer, Friday, August 29, 2008, at his Briarwood home in Perham, MN, under the care of Red River Hospice. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 3, at 11:00 am in St. Lawrence Catholic Church, rural Perham, with Father Dan Walz officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, September 2 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm with a prayer service at 6:30 pm, at Schoeneberger Funeral Home, Perham, with visitation to continue one hour prior to services at the church.
Don was born May 12, 1926, in Melrose, MN, the son of Alex and Mary (Zirbes) Hinnenkamp. He was a WWII Veteran. Don served as a flight engineer on B-29's in the Pacific Theater. After the war he attended the Illinois Institute of Technology majoring in machine engineering. He married Loretta Lies in 1949 and the couple raised three children in Wahpeton, ND. Don worked in the plumbing, heating, and cooling industry for many years, eventually owning his own business, Wahpeton Mechanical Contractors, Inc.
Don and Loretta retired to Ottertail Lake where Don continued his life long support of the American Legion, Ottertail Rod and Gun Club, and Lions Club. After Loretta's death in 2005, Don moved to his final residence in Briarwood, Perham, MN.
Don is survived by two sons, Dan (Barb) Hinnenkamp, Grand Forks, ND; and John (Kim) Hinnenkamp, Prior Lake, MN; three grandchildren, Kelsi, Joshua, and Zachary; two brothers, Gene Hinnenkamp, Mary Ester, FL; and Art Hinnenkamp, Clear Lake, MN; and a sister, Erma Schriver, Santa Clara, CA.
Preceding Don in death are his parents; wife, Loretta; daughter, Mary Fran Myers; and a brother, Al Hinnenkamp.
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Don was an ardent supporter of the Honor Flight program that provides a complimentary trip for WWII Veteran's to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Memorials are preferred to Northern Valley Honor Flight, PO Box 12429, Grand Forks, ND 58208-2429.
Schoeneberger Funeral Home, Perham, MN, is in charge of the arrangements. (218) 346-5175. Online tributes may be posted on www.schoenebergerfuneralhome.com .
