Donald Tabery

The Mass of Christian Burial for Donald Tabery was celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 30, 2012 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church with Father Donald Wagner as celebrant. Surrounded by his family, Don passed away, at the age of 91, on July 26, 2012, at Tri-County Hospital in Wadena. Donald Joseph Tabery was born to John and Ida (Maroney) Tabery on October 9, 1920 in Leaf River Township, in Wadena County, MN. He graduated from Wadena High School in 1939. Don went on to work for Wm Collins & Sons Fargo Road Construction building US Highway 71, then with C. L. Nelson in Brainerd and E.W. Coons in Hibbing. By 1941, he was working in Barling, AR, for the Western Construction Company building Camp Chafee. In 1942, he went to Newfoundland to build a military highway from Argentina to St. Johns, then on to Manitoba, Canada, to build a military airport. Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943, serving until his honorable discharge in 1946. He returned to work in 1947, on the Rock Quarry in Santa Catalina, continuing with more foreign jobs in Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, and Greenland. Returning home, Don married Marcella “Marcy” Kern at St. Hubert’s Catholic Church in Blue Grass on September 2, 1950. They moved to California, bought a ranch in Palmdale, then decided to move back home to start a construction business with Simon and Don Kern, as Kern & Tabery Construction. Don enjoyed the outdoors further with fishing, farming and hunting. He was on the board of directors for the Associated Contractors from 1991-1993, and the grading committee for MN DOT A.G.C. for 10 years. Don was on St. Ann’s Parish Council, a 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, K.C. treasurer, and a member of the American Legion, Elks Club and VFW. Don was preceded in death by his parents John and Ida; brother James; and a sister Lucille Turbitt. Don is survived by his loving wife Marcy; children Craig of Foothill Ranch, CA, Kevin (Carol), Kenneth (Gayle) and Keith all of Wadena, Roxanne (Rick) Giese of Milaca, and Melissa Tabery of Wadena; ten grandchildren & six great-grandchildren; along with a host of relatives, friends and business associates. Serving as pallbearers were Christopher Tabery, Ryan Tabery, Donald Tabery, Kevin Rossow, Paul Hunke and Lorin Ludwig. Military honors were provided by the Elmer Goche Post 3922, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wadena, MN. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery in Wadena, MN. At the family’s request, memorials may be directed to the A.G.C. Scholarship Fund in Don’s name.

Donald Tabery

October 9, 1920 - July 26, 2012