Donald Cain

Donald J. Cain, age 71, of Willmar, died Wednesday morning, February 18th, at his home following an extended illness.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M., Saturday February 21st, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar with Fr. Steven Verhelst officiating. The interment will be at the church cemetery. Friends may call from 5-8 P.M., Friday, at the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and at the church one hour prior to the service. There will be a Parish Prayer service at 7:30 P.M. Friday and a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 8 P.M. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are preferred to the Rice Hospice or the Elks Youth Camp.
Donald Joseph Cain was born on August 11, 1937 in Benson, Minnesota, the son of Alice Theresa (Langsdorf) and Peter Henry Cain. He grew up south of DeGraff and received his education at the District No. 33 rural school. He worked as a farm hand for Louie Matter for a short time and then moved with his family to Willmar in 1952. Don worked for the Olson Brothers Farms near Long Lake until 1955 when he went to work for Burlington Northern Railroad in the Track Department. In 1956, he was transferred and became a Signalman Helper. On August 1, 1959, he married Sharon Hazel Allen and they made their home in Willmar. Don was a Signal Inspector and was given a disability retirement in 1990. He was a member of Church of St. Mary since 1955, was a funeral usher, a Eucharistic Minister and a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Don was also very active in the Willmar Elks Lodge. He was Exalted Ruler in 1985, District Deputy in 1990, on six Ritual Teams, Elk of the Year in 1990, is on the National Committee for the Elks Veterans Services, a Veterans Administration Voluntary Service Area Representative since 2004 and was a member of the Eagles Club. He loved being with family and friends, especially his great grandchildren and grandchildren, seeing them grow and become young men and women. He also enjoyed fishing, gardening, hunting and making a pie or two.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon of Willmar, two sons; Jeffrey (and Linda) Cain of Hinkley and Scott (and Petra) Cain of Cape Coral, Florida, one daughter, Candice (and Donald) Zier of Stevensville, Montana, eight grandchildren; Crystal Cain, PFC Christina Cain, Kimberly Gillis, Christopher Zier, Kevin Cain, Melissa Cain, Cassandra Zier, Megan Cain and four great grandchildren; Jaden Cain, Scott Gillis, Taylor Hauer-Cain and Jasmine Gillis. Also surviving are eight brothers; Peter Cain of Alexandria, Richard (and Iris) Cain of Willmar, William (and Jacquelyn) Cain of Willmar, Timothy Cain (and fiance Karen Schneider) of Portland, Oregon, Lawrence Cain of Willmar, Patrick (and Corby) Cain of Willmar, Michael (and Pam) Cain of Kandiyohi and Robert Cain of Willmar and four sisters; Catherine Hay of Willmar, Rose (and Douglas) Zetah of Willmar, Patricia (and Henry) Ritz of Willmar and Louise Leason (and fiance Ralph Schmitt) of Willmar, besides other relatives and friends. Don was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers; John, Terrance, Thomas and Francis Cain and one nephew, Ryan Cain.