Donald Phillip Kaiser

PORTAGE  --    Donald Phillip Kaiser, age 87, of Portage, passed to eternal life at his home on Sunday, July 20, 2014.

Don was born in Ingram, Wisconsin on March 1, 1927 to Phillip C. and Ellen (Doar) Kaiser.  Following his service in the Army in World War II and his 1950 graduation from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where he belonged to Chi Psi Fraternity.  Don’s chosen career became road-building.  Don joined his Dad in forming P. C. Kaiser Construction, Inc., a grading company that became well recognized in the industry, and existed until his retirement in 1992.  In the spirit of an entrepreneur, Don formed another company – Pipe Specialists, Inc. – which kept him involved in the construction field.

Don served as President of the Wisconsin Road Builders Association and was President of the Wisconsin Earthmovers Association.  His other affiliations include the Masonic organizations, Zor Shrine, Royal Order of Jesters, American Legion, B.P.O.E. Lodge #410, Madison, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

On November 30, 1957, Don married Barbara Ann Salisbury of Madison, and they have resided in Portage all of their married life.  His many talents and interests were wide-reaching – from road building to conservation to antique collecting to needlepointing and to building model sailing ships.

Don is survived by his wife, Barbara;  sister-in-law, Jane Johnson Kaiser;  brother-in-law, Robert (Virginia) Salisbury;  niece, Kimberly (Brett) Ingram;  other relatives and special cousins, Dewey L. Kaiser and Nancy Laubscher.  He is further survived by two very special people in his life – long-time friend, Edward J. Wojtal and his “adopted” son, Andrew Daigneault.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Robert A. Kaiser, and his niece, Karri Kaiser Meier. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, with the Rev. Dick Inglett officiating. Burial will follow in Silver Lake Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.