Albertville patriarch Donald Barthel, who founded one of the community’s cornerstone businesses and served the schools district here for more than five decades, died Saturday, Aug. 2 at his home in Albertville, surrounded by his family. He was 90.
Barthel grew up on one of the community’s quintessential dairy farms, north of Albertville city limits, before he headed off to serve his country in the United States Army.
He returned after the Korean Conflict to his hometown and started Don’s Bus Service in 1958, and would go on to serve his city in countless other ways.
Over the course of six decades he was a volunteer fireman and fire chief, was elected city council member and mayor, and was a Charter Member of the Albertville Lions Club.
He and his late wife, Betty, were faithful members of the St. Albert Catholic Church.
Services are set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 at the Church of St. Albert, with visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. also at the church. The Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Further visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral Mass on Saturday.
Don is survived by his children, Albert (Pam), Stanley, Gail (Reggie) Hinrichs, Rodney, and Jason (Dawn); as well as 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
