Obituary of Donald J. Musil

Donald J. Musil, 86, of Mission Hill, SD, passed away peacefully Friday night, December 26, 2014 while at the Yankton Care Center, Yankton SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton, with Rev. Mark Lichter officiating. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Yankton, with Military Graveside Rites by the Ernest-Bowyer VFW Post #791 Honor Guard and the South Dakota Army National Guard Honor Guard. Visitations will begin at 6:00 PM, Tuesday, December 30, 2014 with a rosary at 7:00 PM followed by a Scripture service at 7:30 PM at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, SD. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Don was born February 18, 1928, in Ethan, SD to John and Julia (Maresh) Musil. They moved to Tabor and then to Lesterville, SD with the family mercantile store. He graduated from Scotland High School in 1946 and attended the University of South Dakota. Don married Lucille Bohlmann on October 17, 1950. He was then drafted into the Army in December and stationed at Fort Riley Kansas. May of 1951, he was sent to Korea. He returned to the states and served out his enlistment as a clerk typist of medical records at Fitzsimons Army Hospital, Denver, CO, until September 1952 when he was honorably discharged as a corporal. Don and Lucille moved back to Lesterville to help with the family store, then moved to Scotland where Don worked with Kobles Electric. They moved to Yankton and then to Mission Hill in May 1957. Don worked as a salesman and later as a part owner of the Wholesale Supply Company 1953-1990. Don enjoyed bowling with friends and teaching his sons to hunt, fish, camp, water ski, and play baseball. Don enjoyed woodworking in his shop, which he built. He also used his carpentry skills to build an addition to his home. Don enjoyed photography using slides and home movies to document everyday life and family events. He was an avid gardener and grew many varieties of roses. He constructed his own arrows for bow hunting white-tailed deer along the Missouri River near Springfield. He was an usher for Sacred Heart Church, an active member of the Knights of Columbus, volunteered at the Senior Citizen Center, and was a member of the VFW and American Legion. Don was a soft spoken man with a gentle smile and positive attitude. He loved the outdoors and being with family and friends. Don is survived by his wife Lucille; his two sisters, Mildred Johnson of Arvada CO, Madonna (Roy) Cassel of Kearny NB; three sons: Kenneth (Georgia) of Greely CO, James (Tammie) of Huron SD and David (Sandy) of Buhl ID; and grandchildren: Jared of Denver, CO, Amanda (Musil-Gustafson) of Greely CO, Kiel (Jessica) of Denver CO, Eric (Sarah) of Sioux Falls SD, Austin of Brookings SD, and Tessa Rae of Huron SD; and great grandchildren Abigail and Zoey Musil-Gustafson. Don was preceded in death by his parents, John and Julia. Donations can be made in Don's name to the Sacred Heart Church, 509 Capitol Street, Yankton, SD 57078, the Senior Citizen Center, 900 Whiting, Yankton, SD 57078 and to the Ernest-Bowyer VFW Post #791, 209 Cedar, Yankton, SD 57078.