Donald Drewiske

Donald J. Drewiske, age 83, of Wisconsin Rapids passed away Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at Edenbrook of Wisconsin Rapids.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Fr. Josh Litwack will officiate. Entombment will be at Forest Hill Mausoleum. Visitation will be from 9:00 A.M. until the time of Mass on Saturday at the church.
Donald was born October 7, 1942 in Laona, Wisconsin to Frank and Mary (Ebben) Drewiske. He graduated from Laona High School and furthered his education at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, graduating in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with a Power Specialty.
He worked for Square D and Allen Bradley in Milwaukee before joining the engineering department of Nekoosa Edwards Paper Company at Port Edwards in 1968 from which he retired with the successor company, Domtar, in 2002.
Donald was united in marriage to Jean Kruger on November 11, 1967 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Wisconsin Rapids.
He treasured time spent with family and friends, whether enjoying a meal at one of their favorite restaurants or gathering at home for a home-cooked meal. He took great pleasure in planning a river cruise for the family, imagining the time they would share and the memories they would create. Although his health ultimately prevented him from making the trip, the planning itself reflected how much he cared about bringing his family together and sharing with them the experiences that made travel so meaningful to him.
Some of his happiest moments were spent with his three grandchildren. He enjoyed playing games, reading together, pulling them in wagons and sleds, picking berries, and spending summer days in the pool. He proudly attended their sporting events, school programs, and band concerts, always eager to be part of whatever they were doing and to support them along the way.
Travel was another great passion. Over the years, he visited more than 50 countries across six continents, embracing opportunities to experience different cultures, try new adventures, and simply enjoy the beauty of the world. His travels included skiing in Dubai, riding the Orient Express in Thailand, visiting the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, and celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary with an African safari. He also enjoyed relaxing on the beaches of the Caribbean and vacationing in Florida and Hawaii.
He discovered golf later in life, beginning in his 50s, but it quickly became a favorite pastime during retirement. He enjoyed traveling with friends for weekly rounds of golf, sometimes driving several hours to play, and he always looked forward to fitting in a few rounds while vacationing in Florida and Hawaii.
Fishing provided many memorable adventures as well. After catching muskies on the Chippewa Flowage, he went on numerous fly-in fishing trips to Canada with his friend “Big” John. He was fortunate to share many of those trips with Chad and Kevin, with his last Canadian fishing trip taking place in 2019.
He also enjoyed decades of deer hunting and fellowship in City Point, sharing the tradition with hunters of all ages. The friendships and camaraderie that came with those hunting seasons were an important part of what made them special to him.
Gardening was another source of great joy. From rows of vegetables to berries and flowers, he took pride in working outdoors and tending to what he had planted. He also took special pride in his ongoing battle with Japanese beetles, capturing thousands of them over the years. His pest-management efforts extended to squirrels as well, which he diligently relocated to what he jokingly referred to as an “area of higher learning.” He never marked his catches, however, so he could never be certain whether it was one particularly stubborn squirrel returning again and again or simply a new student who had failed to learn the lesson.
Donald was active in the community, serving the City of Wisconsin Rapids on the Building Board of Appeals, the Housing Board of Appeals, and the Water Works and Lighting Commission for 20 years. He was active with the Boy Scouts as a merit badge counselor and troop committee member. He served his church, St. Vincent de Paul, on the finance council and was a local coordinator and tax counselor for the Wisconsin Rapids AARP income tax program for 20 years.
Donald is survived by his loving wife, Jean; three sons: Greg (Rebekah) Drewiske of Wisconsin Rapids, Chad (Jen Grooms) Drewiske of Menasha, and Kevin (Krista) Drewiske of Onalaska; three grandchildren: Julia Drewiske and Kara Drewiske of Milwaukee and Isaac Drewiske of Wisconsin Rapids; one sister, Donna (Steve) Litwack of Tulsa, OK; brother-in-law, David “Duffy” Voeltz of Lake Tomahawk; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Bernard (Mildred) Drewiske, Evelyn (Paul) Jansen, David Drewiske, Harold (Rosella) Drewiske, Norbert (Margie) Drewiske, and Anna Mae Voeltz.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Qer, Lindsey, and Christian for helping Don stay at home after significant health challenges, Renaissance for the year he had with them, and Edenbrook for the exceptional care from the team in what would be his final weeks.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to Boys and Girls Club of Wisconsin Rapids or Catholic Medical Mission.
Herman-Taylor Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family.