Donald H. Bein, 81, of West Bend, died Saturday, June 25, 2005 at St. Joseph's Community Hospital in West Bend.
He was born on May 11, 1924 in Chicago, IL to the late William and Ella (nee Poltrock) Bein. He married Dorothy Eggerding (nee Stellhorn) on Jan. 6, 1974 in Valparaiso, IN.
He served in the U.S. Army Air Corp as a weather forecaster during WWII. He married Clara Dehn in 1947. He graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and began his career as an engineer for Standard Oil. Working in Research and Development at A.O. Smith in Milwaukee he developed, and for 15 years, led their computer function, which later became Deluxe Data Systems. After serving as Vice President of Corporate Planning for several years he retired in 1982, after 30 years with A.O. Smith.
Don remained very active in retirement: as a board member and volunteer with the Milwaukee Downtown Rotary Club, and served for over 20 years as statistician for the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the ELCA. He was actively involved with his Lutheran churches, including Kingo in Shorewood and St. Luke in Slinger.
In 1997 Don and Dorothy moved to Cedar Community in West Bend where Don continued to be very active, as a Bible class leader, tending Cedar Campus trail markers, writing a monthly Star column for the 'Senior Citizen', and offering spirited travelogues of his world travels with Dorothy.
Don's love of whittling has resulted in numerous wood sculptures, gifts, toys, and useful items for the home.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; four children, Janet Bein of Evanston, IL, Bill (Susan Slogoff) Bein of Chicago, IL, Mary Susan (Richard) Sheaves-Bein of Cleveland, OH, and Carol (Tim) Robinson of Richfield; two step-sons, Dan Eggerding of San Jose, CA, and Phil Eggerding of Hubbell, MI; three grandchildren, Steve (Michele Heidel) Bein of Rochester, MN, David Bein of River Forest, IL, and Kris Bein of Carbondale, IL; a sister, Arlene Gierke of Silver City, MN; two sisters-in-law, Mildred Schroth of Racine, and Selda Gehrke of San Francisco; other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Ruth Kagelmann.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, June 28 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 4860 Arthur Rd., Slinger. Visitation will be at the church on Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers memorials to Project RETURN, Second Harvest of WI, St. Luke Lutheran Church, or Cedar Community are appreciated.