Don Sinn

Donald Leroy Sinn, 95, of St. Charles died Thursday, September 28, 2023 at home, surrounded by his family. Don was born October 17, 1927 in St. Paul to Herbert and Ida (Johnson) Sinn. Then enlisted in the United States Navy and served from 1945-1947 as a Third Class AirCraft Aviation Machinist Mate.   He and Irene Runkle met at a sweetheart dance and were married December 8, 1951   They farmed near Racine until moving their family to a farm near St. Charles in 1958. Don and Irene worked side by side farming and raising their family.

He was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church and the St. Charles American Legion Post. As a couple they delivered Meals on Wheels while Don volunteered as a 4H Leader, was a board member of Winona County Pork Producers, and served for 15 years as a School Board member.In their retirement Don and Irene enjoyed trips to Montana and wintering in the south.  Donald prides himself on planting over 30 thousand trees and hopes he killed the same amount of buckthorn in the same time.  As a Greek Proverb says, "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in"
Don is survived by two children, Linda (Glen) Haas of Thompson Falls, MT, and Jerry Sinn of St. Charles, grandchildren, Lindsey (Jeson) Sangaralingham, Jared (Leslie) Haas, Rachel (Rick) Markee, Kristal Sinn and Cody Sinn, great-grandchildren, Shea, Layla, Paige, and Aiden, and a sister, Darlene Bjugan of Pine Island. He was preceded in death by his wife Irene in 2020, his son Dana, and his brother, Maurice.
Funeral Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in St. Charles with the Reverend Thomas Fast officiating. A Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at Hoff Funeral Service in St. Charles, and one hour before services at the church on Wednesday. Burial will follow in Saratoga Cemetery. The St. Charles American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War groups will conduct military graveside honors at the cemetery. www.hofffuneral.com.