Donald Dennis Hadley
Saturday, March 5, 1938
Date of Death:
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Age:
82 years old
Saturday, March 5, 1938
Date of Death:
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Age:
82 years old
Saturday, March 5, 1938
Date of Death:
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Age:
82 years old
Donald Dennis Hadley
Donald Dennis Hadley, age 82, passed away at home on January 19, 2021.
He was born March 5, 1938 in Des Moines, Iowa to Harold and Margaret Hadley. The family later moved to Wausau, WI where he spent the majority of his childhood/teen years. He attended Catholic school there until an unfortunate incident involving him and one of his classmates (putting limburger cheese in close proximity to a radiator) resulted in a transfer to the public school system. He loved playing basketball (varsity) and his high school team went on to win a state championship. He went to Spencerian Business College to pursue a career in retail. Don then married Arlene Jakubek on July 4, 1957 and they later divorced.
Most of his retail career was in the shoe business. He worked with and eventually had a partnership in the Twin Cities with Bill Frautschi (Grove Shoes), taking over the shoe store after Bill passed away. Don helped out one of the Frautschi children who was still in school (Trudi) after both parents had passed and was dubbed “Had-Dad”. He married Jeannine Lindquist on October 5, 1978 in Apple Valley, MN and they moved to Rochester, MN where Don continued his retail career at Massey’s Department Store.
Don then became owner of O&B Shoe Store in downtown Rochester and eventually added a store at the TJ Maxx Plaza; he was known about town as “the Soleman”. He could sell you anything and believed in making work fun. He loved his business friends (Canadian Honker, Eagle Drug, Ell Boutique, Hanny’s, Hers, Leisure Aquatics, Pappy’s, Shuler Shoes, Tangerine, Victorias, Wells Fargo, West Bank, to name a few), his customers (locally and from around the globe of whom some spent time at his home, the Hadley Hotel) and especially all of his employees who he thought of as family (Natalie Arend, Ben Barnett, James Berg, John Butrum, Jerry Campbell, Tom Carlson, Bryan Cole, Melinda Cooper, Kailynn Hamersma, Angie Hanson, Greg Hayes, TJ Jahnke, Dan Johnson, Brandon Krom, Adam Kuehn, Chuck LaRue, Kayla Mathiason, Dean McGuire, Mike Meek, Joe Murphy, Tascha Schaar, Lisa Sobotta, Anthony Verderame, Sue Wermerskirchen).
When it came to getting a good pair of shoes, he often said he could fit “anything that moves”. If you were at one of the two shoe stores and needed a pair of shoes located at the other store, he would hop into the Solemobile and get it to you within 20 1/2 minutes (best record was 14 minutes and that was without a speeding ticket but probably because he sold shoes to his friends in blue). If you couldn’t get out of your car or leave your home, hotel room or hospital bed, he would bring the shoes to you. If they fit properly, then he would let you pay for them.
Don enjoyed looking for morel mushrooms and playing cards with neighborhood friends (Jack and Vivien Har), football (Green Bay), a morning dip in the pool, and winter vacations by the ocean with friends (Monsignors Hargesheimer and Grubisch, Kroms, Mildes and Nusses). He also performed in all ten of the St. Pius X Church dinner theaters playing various and always nefarious roles which included Mr. Potato Head, the good witch of the north, and other unmentionables. His favorite saying was “I started with nothing and I have most of it left.”
He is survived by his wife, Jeannine; brothers, Douglas Hadley (Karla) and Mark Hadley (Debbie); and sister, Sally Burr. He leaves behind six children, Charles Hadley (Cindy), Carrie Elder (Rob), Cathy Anderson, James Hadley (Donna), John Hadley (Anita) and Andrea Kaplowitz (Josh); 19 grandchildren, Jennifer Bartholomay (Jason), Jake Hadley and best friend Maranda Blackwell, Jordan Hadley and best friend, Dani Schafer, Anthony Verderame (Leah), Jonathan Verderame (Julie), Adam Kirwin, Nate Anderson, Lauren Seog (Adam), Jeanette Hadley, Kara Shakya (Prakash), Brent and Zachary Hadley, Collin Buckler, Thomas Hadley, Noah Hadley, Bella Hadley, Isaiah Hadley (due to arrive later this month), Eli Kaplowitz, Evelyn Kaplowitz, Simon Kaplowitz; 10 great grandchildren, Madelynn and Ethan Bartholomay, Michael and Eleanor Verderame, Maya Mørch, Emma Verderame, Griffin Seog, Aria and Sidhartha Shakya, Halley Hadley; and nine very grand pooches; Harold, Leo, Puga, Doc, Bentley, Murphy, Caffrey, Gatsby and Norman.
The Memorial Mass for Donald will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 6, 2021 at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at church. Burial will be in St. Margaret’s Cemetery in Minnetonka, MN.
Memorials to Seasons Hospice and St. Pius X Church.
Condolences
The family of Donald Dennis Hadley has received the following condolences.
My deepest condolences to Don's family, to friends Mark & Deb, and the entire rest of the Hadley family. I didn't know Don, but he sounds like he had a love of life and lived it fully. A life well lived, indeed.
I hope that all of the great memories you have tucked away through the years carry you through this tough time, and beyond.
Jennine,
So sad to learn of Don's death and at the same time ever grateful to have known him. I remain amazed at his memory of his customers, their size, tastes and special needs. God give Don light and peace and for you blessed memories and abiding consolation.
Fr Edward McGrath
I am so sorry to hear of Don's passing. We first met when I worked for a short time at Masseys department store. Don was the most decent person working there. We remained friends over the years as I worked at Mayo and then sold shoes at Herbergers. Don was always pleasant and friendly and even befriended my daughter who named him "Mr. H." I always enjoyed dropping by O&B and chatting with Don over the years. Rest in peace Mr. H., a good and faithful friend. My condolences to the family.
Don was known as “the Soleman,” and it was a good name. Don was a master at finding the perfect shoe, the perfect fit, for anyone. As an added bonus, while they were being fitted, Don’s customers were often treated to some free entertainment, courtesy of Don and his sense of humor! There’s another reason that “the Soleman” seems like the right name for Don. Don had a skill, a talent…for putting himself in the other person’s shoes, metaphorically speaking. Don could see what the other person needed, and he was a master at finding the perfect fit there, too. Sometimes, what they needed was a touch of Don’s sense of humor! Don was generous with his humor, just like he was generous in so many other ways. Don shared his know-how, his skill, his talent, his home, his humor, his soul. Thank you, Don. It was a blessing to know you, “the Soleman,” Don Hadley.
One of the most generous, light hearted, loving man I have ever met. Despite the long length of time since I last visited with Don and his beautiful wife, his memory will always remain with me.
Love,
Mike Hargesheimer
Dear Jeannine and family, my very deepest sympathy! Although, because of my health issues, I've not seen you for ages, I have many happy memories! I'm sure God decided heaven needed a "Soleman"! HUGS! He will be missed by so many. Prayers for all of you to have the strength to get through these next days and weeks. The 10am Mass on March 7th will be offered for him.
God bless you all.
Nancy Silvernail
Dear Jeannine and family, We are sorry for your loss. Jeannine we have many fond memories of Don and you at many gathering in Wabasha with Monsignors Hargesheimer and Grubisch and Les and Lavonne. You are in our thoughts and prayers. RIP Don! With our deepest sympathy, Launie & Ralph Smith?????
I’m so saddened by the loss of my uncle Don. To the family take comfort in all the wonderful memories that you have made. He was always making people laugh. May he RIP ?