Donald Henry Eaton
January 5, 1928 – December 13, 2013
</span><br /><strong>January 5, 1928 - December 13, 2013</strong></p>
<p>Donald Henry Eaton, 85, passed away on December 13, 2013, in Weston, Florida. He was born on January 5, 1928, in Green Lake, Wis., to Donald McLelland Eaton and Elaine Marie Gentzen Eaton.</p>
<p>Donald grew up in West Allis, Wis. He graduated from West Allis Central High School in 1945 at age 17, and immediately joined the Merchant Marines.</p>
<p>Donald married Sally Frances Emmett in 1947. They were happily married for 29 years until Sally’s death in 1976. In 1981, he married Geraldine Gudmundson.</p>
<p>Donald started work at the flour mill in Superior, Wis. He then worked for Fowler Towel company in Milwaukee, where he became a Teamster’s union member, and soon thereafter began working for Teamster’s union 695 as a business agent. He quickly became President and, subsequently, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 695 in Madison Wis.</p>
<p>He was voted Man of the Year in 1969 in the City of Madison for his contributions in settling a bus drivers strike. He later worked as a Commissioner of Labor Mediation for the Federal government, first in the Minneapolis office, and then in Atlanta, Ga. prior to his retirement. In retirement, he moved to Sun City Center, Fla., and became an avid golfer, joining four leagues, and keeping scores for some of them. He was part of the local neighborhood watch group, and provided community service as a volunteer mediator.</p>
<p>Donald was preceded in death by brother Lawrence Albert Eaton, wife Sally Frances Emmett Eaton, and parents Donald McLelland Eaton and Elaine Marie Gentzen Eaton.</p>
<p>Donald is survived by children Jamie Beatty of Columbus, Ohio; Christopher Eaton of Madison, Wis.; Laurie Eaton (James Jasper) of Minneapolis, Minn.; Nell Henry (James) of River Falls, Wis.; grandchildren S. Patrick Eaton (Yuko Sasano), Hank Beatty (Angie), Jesse Beatty, Samuel Underkofler (Angelia Gomes), Kelly Underkofler, Jake Underkofler, Casey Underkofler, Kate Henry and Allie Henry; great-grandchildren Reika Sasano, Kei Sasano, Jamie Beatty and Harley Snyder; brother Phillip Eaton of Sun City Center, Fla.; nephew David Eaton; spouse Geraldine Eaton of Weston, Fla.; stepchildren Dean Gudmundson, (Dierdre); Holly Cruse; Jennifer Gudmundson; and Nicole Moore, (Patrick).</p>
<p>In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Macular Degeneration Research, 22512 Gateway Center Dr., Clarksburg, MD 20871.</p>
<p>
<p>Donald Henry Eaton, 85, passed away on December 13, 2013, in Weston, Florida. He was born on January 5, 1928, in Green Lake, Wis., to Donald McLelland Eaton and Elaine Marie Gentzen Eaton.</p>
<p>Donald grew up in West Allis, Wis. He graduated from West Allis Central High School in 1945 at age 17, and immediately joined the Merchant Marines.</p>
<p>Donald married Sally Frances Emmett in 1947. They were happily married for 29 years until Sally’s death in 1976. In 1981, he married Geraldine Gudmundson.</p>
<p>Donald started work at the flour mill in Superior, Wis. He then worked for Fowler Towel company in Milwaukee, where he became a Teamster’s union member, and soon thereafter began working for Teamster’s union 695 as a business agent. He quickly became President and, subsequently, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 695 in Madison Wis.</p>
<p>He was voted Man of the Year in 1969 in the City of Madison for his contributions in settling a bus drivers strike. He later worked as a Commissioner of Labor Mediation for the Federal government, first in the Minneapolis office, and then in Atlanta, Ga. prior to his retirement. In retirement, he moved to Sun City Center, Fla., and became an avid golfer, joining four leagues, and keeping scores for some of them. He was part of the local neighborhood watch group, and provided community service as a volunteer mediator.</p>
<p>Donald was preceded in death by brother Lawrence Albert Eaton, wife Sally Frances Emmett Eaton, and parents Donald McLelland Eaton and Elaine Marie Gentzen Eaton.</p>
<p>Donald is survived by children Jamie Beatty of Columbus, Ohio; Christopher Eaton of Madison, Wis.; Laurie Eaton (James Jasper) of Minneapolis, Minn.; Nell Henry (James) of River Falls, Wis.; grandchildren S. Patrick Eaton (Yuko Sasano), Hank Beatty (Angie), Jesse Beatty, Samuel Underkofler (Angelia Gomes), Kelly Underkofler, Jake Underkofler, Casey Underkofler, Kate Henry and Allie Henry; great-grandchildren Reika Sasano, Kei Sasano, Jamie Beatty and Harley Snyder; brother Phillip Eaton of Sun City Center, Fla.; nephew David Eaton; spouse Geraldine Eaton of Weston, Fla.; stepchildren Dean Gudmundson, (Dierdre); Holly Cruse; Jennifer Gudmundson; and Nicole Moore, (Patrick).</p>
<p>In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Macular Degeneration Research, 22512 Gateway Center Dr., Clarksburg, MD 20871.</p>
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