Donald Jerome Pohl

Donald Pohl, age 97, passed away on March 6, 2025, due to complications from a fall.  

Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m on Thursday, July 24th, at St. Philip’s Church, Bemidji. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Don (“Bud” to his family) was born May 27, 1927, in Glidden, Wisconsin, the son of Phillip and Anna (Eineichner) Pohl. He was raised in Glidden and Cook, MN. He entered the Army Air Corps in August of 1945, following graduation from high school, and was honorably discharged in July of 1947. He attended Virginia (MN) Junior College and started working for Lakehead Pipeline in 1950, retiring as mechanical supervisor in 1989. He married Janet Gainey in Bemidji on May 29, 1954—a union that lasted more than 61 happy years.

He had a life-long fascination with all things motorized and frequently diagnosed his sons’ vehicular problems over the phone and with amazing accuracy. When he wasn’t trading cars & trucks he stayed in shape cutting & stacking wood. He enjoyed dancing to the music of the 1920’s - ‘40s and also made time daily for working the crossword puzzles in his multiple newspaper subscriptions. He was a member and usher at St. Philip’s Catholic Church since 1962 and in retirement volunteered delivering Meals on Wheels right up to his passing.

He is survived by his sons John (Mary Graupman) of Lake Forest, IL, and Bob of Bemidji; daughter-in-law Kristi Hanson Pohl (St. Paul); grandchildren Max (Tokyo, Japan), Elizabeth (Brooklyn, NY), and Charlie (Richfield, MN); sister Marilyn (James) Friedl of Hartford, WI; and brother James (Mary Jackson) of Alexandria, MN; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  

He was preceded in death by his wife, son Mike, brother Charles and sisters Eileen & Lorraine.

Memorials preferred to St. Philip’s School.

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