Donald D. Vikse
Friday, July 30, 1937
Date of Death:
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Age:
77 years old
Visitation
Date: Saturday November 01, 2014
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]
Memorial Service
Date: Saturday November 01, 2014
Time: 11:00 am
Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]
Burial
Location: Grandview Memorial Gardens [ view map ]
Friday, July 30, 1937
Date of Death:
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Age:
77 years old
Friday, July 30, 1937
Date of Death:
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Age:
77 years old
Donald D. Vikse
The memorial service for Donald Dean Vikse will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, November 1st at the River Park Chapel, Macken Funeral Home in Rochester (1105 12th Street SE) with Pastor Anjanette Bandel officiating. Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens. The visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Saturday.
Don was 77 when he passed away at his home from pancreatic cancer that was discovered three months earlier. He was surrounded by his family who loved him very much, will miss him every day and are heartbroken he has passed.
Don was born July 30, 1937, in Fillmore County, MN to Edmund and Edna (Kappers) Vikse. He graduated from Leroy HS in 1955. Don entered the Army in 1960 and was stationed in Yuma, AZ as a cook for 2 years.
Don married Charlotte Ann Flikke on February 1, 1963 and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year. They made an inseparable team.
Don worked on his father’s and neighbors farms, for Kappers Construction, Crenlo, the 7-Up Corporation and retired from the Rochester Public Library after 27 years.
Don’s family includes his wife, Charlotte; daughters and sons-in-law, Kristie Vikse (Joe Martinez) of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, Kelly (Thomas) Sauro of Rosemount MN and their three sons, Alex, Tommy and Austin; his two brothers, Darrell (Glenna) Vikse of Spring Valley and Fred (Shirley) Vikse of Rochester; and many aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister, Vivian, and brother, Marvin.
Don loved to tinker with motors and repair anything mechanical. He could see the possibilities in creating something new or repurposing things others thought useless. He was wired to make things better. And that’s just what he did everywhere he went. He loved to trim trees and shrubs and find hidden treasures at garage sales because he had the knack to see the potential in things. What mattered most to Don were people and relationships. He treated everyone with honesty, respect, tolerance and patience. Don was a loving husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather and friend. His gentle blue eyes, warm smile, caring disposition and generous nature will be missed by so many. Everyone who met him found they immediately liked him and Don left a lasting impression.
Don’s family would like to thank his doctors and nurses at the Mayo Clinic and Mayo Hospice who gave Don wonderful care and a special recognition to Dr. Leventakos who treated him like family.
Memorial suggestions include the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Mayo Hospice.
Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com
Condolences
The family of Donald D. Vikse has received the following condolences.
I remember fondly the weekends our families spend together. Please accept my heartfelt condolences, and may the passage of time heal your grief.
To my Great Uncle and his family, with deepest sympathy,
Goodbye may seem forever. Farewell is like the end, but in my heart is
the memory and there you will always be.
Don was a gentleman and a gentle man. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. My deepest sympathy to all the family.
Marilyn Steen
Charlotte and Vikse Family,
We are so sorry for your loss. Please let us know if we can help you with anything.
Dear Charlotte and family,
What a gentleman and sweet man was Don! So many wonderful memories of our time living next to you with our young family. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to you. I know you will miss him terribly. Time will turn the heartache you feel now into a softer, more grateful feeling of having had him in your life.
Love, Dan, Mary and Family
Dottie & I also wish to pass-on to Charlotte & family our sincere condolences. Don was a great co-worker to me over the years; and--tho' I hadn't seen him often since retirement--it was a comfort knowing that he (w. Charlotte as life partner) was one of the truly nice, good neighbors who help to make Rochester a special place.
One of my favorite Don stories happened way back in the mid-1980's when--on a beautiful summer Saturday, after the Public Library had closed for the day--one of the newer Mayo-family-member doctors called our home looking for someone/anyone to find a copy of a particular T.S. Eliot poem to be read at a family wedding, taking place that afternoon here in Rochester. [Remember that this was long before easy internet connections would have made the task as fast as an I-Phone moment.] In any case, and since we Hawthornes didn't own a copy of same, I got on the phone & got lucky in contacting Don & Charlotte. They quickly dropped everything, picked me up, and we sped downtown to the locked-&-secure Library. After they disarmed the security system, I raced-in, found the volume (which I could only hope would be on the shelf), then Don got me to the church in time for a breathless hand-off to "young Dr. Joe M." who was in the groom's party. As a relative newcomer to Rochester, that incident spoke volumes to me about the true meaning of "Minnesota Nice." plus what a nice-&-flexible man was one Don Vikse. Oh yes; and it also taught me how: When the Mayo family name is spoken in this community, people still listen & rise to the occasion!
Anyway, please know that the Vikse Family are in our thoughts and prayers this week. --Frank Hawthorne
I was so sad to read of Don's passing in the Post Bulletin. I am so sorry for you, Charlotte and family. Don was such a good man...He will be missed.
Pat Stephenson
Charlotte: I am so sorry to hear that Don has lost his battle. I enjoyed the times spent with him when he filled our brochure racks. He was always looking for a way to make that task easier! You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Ann Freund
Our heart goes out to you and your family during this difficult time. We want to express our sympathy and let you know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I am so sorry for your loss. Please know that you are never alone. You can find much comfort in the Holy Scriptures which assures us at Psalms 34:18 that God is near to those broken at heart and crushed in spirit. Please accept my deepest sympathies.
Our deepest sympathies for your loss.
We are sending our love, thoughts, and prayers to you at this very difficult time.
My condolences on Don's passing. God's blessings to all of the family.