Guthmiller, Donnie "Don" 1938-2024

GUTHMILLER, GULLICKSON, JOHNSON

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/11/2025 at 13:54:52

Mr. Donnie “Don” Guthmiller, age 86, of Orange City, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 1, 2024, at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

A visitation with the family present will be held on Wednesday, November 6, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the American Reformed Church in Orange City. A prayer service will take place on Thursday, November 7, at 10:00am, at the church, followed by interment at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. There will be a memorial service on Thursday, at 11:00am, at the church with the Rev. Gary Hegstad officiating. The Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City is in charge of arrangements.

Don was born in Yankton, South Dakota, on January 5, 1938, the son of William and Julia (Gullickson) Guthmiller. He grew up enjoying pheasant, duck and goose hunting and excelled in sports at Menno High School, in Menno, South Dakota. He was a four-year letter winner in basketball and was on the 1955 and 1956 First Team All-State Basketball teams. He is still second in school history in career points scored. Don also played American Legion Baseball in Menno from a young age, which culminated in signing a professional contract in 1956 with the Kansas City Athletics or “A’s”. Don played catcher for three years with the franchises’ minor league teams, which included stops in Nebraska, Florida and Texas. A throwing shoulder injury in 1958 prematurely ended his baseball career.

He was united in marriage to Sarah “Sally” Louise Johnson on November 22, 1958, in Olivet, South Dakota. They made their home in Springfield, South Dakota, where he attended Southern State Teachers College on a basketball scholarship, and in 1961 he earned his college degree in education. Don often joked about the fact that his alma maters’ campus is now a South Dakota State Prison. His first teaching jobs were in Wessington, Emory, and Centerville, South Dakota, and it was during this time that he completed his master’s in physical education from the University of South Dakota in 1969. He then accepted a position at Maurice-Orange City High School in Orange City. There, Don taught History and American Government, and coached football, basketball, and baseball. In 1983, Don retired from teaching to become an insurance agent for Farm Bureau Financial Services. He continued with Farm Bureau until his retirement in 2001. Sally passed away on June 15, 2014, in Orange City, after more than 55 years of marriage. Don then moved to Landsmeer Ridge Retirement Community in September of 2015.

Survivors include his three sons and their wives, Marty and Tami Guthmiller, of Orange City; Scott and Janet Guthmiller, of Durham, North Carolina; and Jeff and Renee Guthmiller, of Orange City; his daughter and her husband, Shantel and Jay Van Gelder, of Spencer; nine grandchildren, Jameson Guthmiller, and his wife, Nicole; Brett Guthmiller, and his wife, Elizabeth; Casey Guthmiller, and his wife, Sarah; Katie Guthmiller, and her husband, Austin Feldmann; Emily Guthmiller; Sean Guthmiller, and his wife, Abby; Jennifer, and her husband, Derek Plegge; Shayler Van Gelder; and Kamdyn Van Gelder; nine great grandchildren, Eli, Hudson and Maddie Guthmiller; Will and Gerrit Guthmiller; Hunter and Braxton Guthmiller; and Cru and Brooks Plegge.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Hannah Rae Guthmiller; and his three sisters, Goldie Hellwig, Marcella Schelske, and Judy McCloud.

Memorials will be given to the Landsmeer Ridge Retirement Community and the Orange City Adult Activity Center.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.