NEW ULM–Donald E. Balbach, age 93, of New Ulm passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 23, 2024 at the Oak Hills Living Center in New Ulm.

Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday, June 28, 2024 at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – South Chapel in New Ulm. Burial will follow in the New Ulm City Cemetery, Soldier’s Rest section where the New Ulm Area Comrades of Valor Honor Guard will provide full military honors. Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. Friday, June 28, 2024 at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Homes – South Chapel in New Ulm. To leave an online condolence for the family, or to sign the guestbook, please visit: www.mvfh.org.

Donald is survived by his wife of over 71 years, Kathleen Balbach; daughters, Debbie Foran of Monticello, IL, Cheryl (Terry) Kaeding of Monticello, IL, Jodi (Jim) Sackett of Greenville, SC; sons, Jeff Balbach of Tyler, Jerry (Julaine) Balbach of New Ulm, Jon (Connie) Balbach of Bemidji; twenty grandchildren; twenty-eight great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; and many extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Theresa, Yvonne, Kathleen, Jeanette; and brother, Jerry “Joe”.

Donald Ernest Balbach was born August 16, 1930 to Ernest and Sara (Cartin) Balbach in Newry. He graduated high school in Canton, Minnesota, and then enlisted in the United States Air Force. Donald served his country from June of 1948 through June of 1954, working as a Tech Sergeant and then a Senior Aircraft Mechanic. On June 20, 1953, Donald was united in marriage to Kathleen Nachreiner at Macon, Georgia and their union was blessed with six children. After his military service, Donald provided for his family by working as an auto mechanic at Karney Motors for five years and then worked at Augi Meyer Radiator Shop for four years. He then began a thirty-six year long career with Kraft Foods, working in New Ulm, Illinois, and California where he worked as a mechanic, group leader, supervisor, and eventually a consultant before he retired in 1989. Don then worked at McDonalds and Schells in maintenance, as well as a driver for MVTL.

In his free time, Donald enjoyed going bowling, playing bingo, cards, hunting, fishing, and happy hour with family, neighbors, and friends. He was a member of the DAV and American Legion Post 1648. Donald especially enjoyed the fourteen years that he and Kathleen were able to winter down in Arizona, and all the time he was able to spend with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Donald will be dearly missed by those that knew him. Blessed be his memory.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Brown County Veterans Association, Oak Hills Living Center, or donor’s choice.

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