Donald Lamar Elveback – Aug. 13, 1929 – Dec. 30, 2019
Donald Lamar Elvebak of Cottage Grove, Oregon, passed away Dec. 30, 2019 of natural causes at the age of 90.
He was born on a farm in Winnebago County, Iowa on Aug. 13, 1929 to Leonard and Edith (Flugum) Elvebak.
He was the oldest of four boys and was a proud graduate of Kiester High School in Kiester, Minnesota; he was one of three students in his graduating class. In his younger days, he was a Golden Glove boxer representing both Iowa and Minnesota in the national tournament. He served in the Army during the Korean War.
On Aug. 12, 1954 he married Mary Dudley in Albert Lea, Minn. They remained married for 47 years, six months and five days before his wife’s passing in 2002. Life was never happy unless his wife was happy.
Beginning in December of 1959, before I-5 was even finished, he moved with his growing brood to Oregon, settling in Cottage Grove. He worked for Weyerhaeuser for more that 30 years until his retirement in 1993. To support his family of eight, he never turned down a chance to work. Once, despite feeling ill, he went to work anyway, not realizing until much later that he was suffering a mild heart attack.
Donald was an Iowan farm boy at heart, perpetually in motion, always looking for a chore to perform. He had a passion for woodworking and was an expert builder of porch swings; he could jury-rig anything together, whether it was wanted or not. He was a fan of the Seattle Seahawks and Mariners, but was an avid follower of Oregon Ducks. He was a master chef at popcorn, had a lifelong interest in all things WWII and enjoyed dancing a jig, to the delight of all who saw.
Donald found fortune in family. He was an extraordinary man not in deeds but in character. He was a quiet man, rarely angry. He was a nice man. He was a kind man. To his family, he was our sunshine.
He is survived by his children: Debbi (Steve) Woody of Cottage Grove; son Randy Elvebak of Cottage Grove; son Jeffrey Elvebak of Cottage Grove; son Jamie Elvebak of Eugene, Ore.; daughter Nancy (Steve) Drazkiewicz of Canby, Ore.; son Robert Elvebak of Klamath Falls, Oregon; daughter Darci (Frank) Spangler of Eugene; brother Mearald Elvebak of Albert Lea, Minn.; brother Larry (Clarine) Elvebak of Blue Earth, Minn.; 11 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and a daughter in all but name, Linda (Bill) Mullins of Cottage Grove.
He is preceded in death by his parents, wife and brother Rodney.
A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25 at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Cottage Grove. Arrangements are in the care of Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel in Cottage Grove.
