Donald K. Schirrick, 92, of Red Lake Falls, MN, passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Villa St Vincent, Crookston, MN.
Donald Kern Schirrick was born on May 24, 1931, at his family’s home in Wylie Township, Red Lake County. The homestead, established by his grandfather Frank in 1881, was where he lived all his life. Donald was the son of Peter and Emma (Whalen) Schirrick. He was raised on the family farm and attended Black River School #124J and graduated from Lafayette High School with the class of 1949. He attended UND for 2 years where he studied chemistry. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Dorothy’s Catholic Church and was very active until the church closed when he became a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls. He was actively involved in 4-H during his youth and was selected to participate in the National 4-H Club Congress held in Chicago in 1951. He was very artistic, an avid reader and had a fondness for toy tractors and model trains.
On September 9, 1961, he was united in marriage to Karen Grace Murray at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Grand Forks, ND. They were blessed with four children; David, Jennifer, Daniel, and Thomas. The family established their home on the Schirrick family farm. Don dedicated himself to farming his entire life. He was named Red Lake County King Agassiz in 1970. He also worked as a lab foreman at American Crystal Sugar in Crookston from 1958-1979.
Don was very proud of his children and grandchildren, instilling a strong work ethic in all of them. He was very involved in politics, was chairman of the Red Lake County DFL for 30 years. He was elected as a pro-life delegate to the Democratic National Convention in New York City in 1992. He was the endorsed candidate for state representative of his home district in 1996, Don was instrumental in the founding of the Knights of Columbus at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls, MN. He was named Minnesota State Knight of the Year in 1995. He served as a board member on the Red Lake Watershed district for several years.
Don is survived by his loving wife of 62 years Karen of Red Lake Falls, MN; children David (Sandy) of Winnemucca, NV, Jennifer (Robert) Proulx of Red Lake Falls, MN, Daniel of Red Lake Falls, MN and Thomas (Vickie) of Hawley, MN; grandchildren Adrianne, Kelly, Holly, Alexandra, Jessie, Kathryn, Kristopher, Kurtis, Laura, Nicholas, Jaclyn, Wyatt, Benjamin, Peter, Emily, Grace; great-grandchildren Olivia, Beau, Grayson, Jocelyn, Mykaela, Braxton, Jackson, Sunnie, Genevieve, Theodore, Connor, William, Olive, Rome; siblings Cecilia Baatz of Crookston, MN, Carol Laier of Twain Harte, CA; several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Don is preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Emma; brothers, Peter Jr. and Joseph; sisters, Madonna Peterson and infant Mary.
Mass of Christian burial for Don will be held 11:00 AM on Saturday April 13, 2024 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls, MN with Father Bob Schreiner Presider, MSGR. Timothy McGee and John Bruggeman Deacon. Burial will be held at St. Dorothy Catholic Cemetery, Dorothy, MN.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
