Donald (Don) M. Dalton, 75, of Wautoma, after a long, courageous battle defeating cancer, passed away from medical complications on June 19, 2017.
Don grew up on the family dairy farm, Daltondale, in Hartland. He graduated in 1959 from Hartland-Arrowhead High School. Don earned his B.S. in agriculture from UW-Platteville where he played football and baseball. Don earned post-graduate certifications and degrees at various universities.
While in college, Don met his first wife, Judy McCarville. They were married in 1963 and had four children. Early in their marriage, they moved to Burlington, where they were both educators until Judy’s death in 1989.
On April 17, 1993, Don married Barbara Lucas Dalton. Although they began their life together in Burlington, they retired to Wautoma in 2001.
Don was a highly active member in each community he lived and always involved at the leadership level, often serving as president. Don and Barb worked together in service with Habitat for Humanity of Waushara County and Porter’s Lake Association. He served as president of both organizations. He was a member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Wautoma.
By trade, Don was an educator, coach and administrator, later becoming a sales rep for Healy Awards. He worked for the Burlington Area School District for 37 years, serving 18 years as the athletic director and 27 years as the head football coach. Don served on the Burlington Rescue Squad for 12 years and was recognized as the Burlington Kiwanis Man of the Year in 1996.
His extraordinary accomplishments on the field include being a head football coach with a winning record of 202 wins, 57 losses, one tie; 22 Southern Lakes Conference Championships and 12 trips to the WIAA State playoffs. He was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Hall of Fame, Burlington Athletic Wall of Fame, National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Hall of Fame. His plaques can be seen at both Camp Randall Stadium and Lambeau Field. In October he will be honored with induction into the Racine County Athletic Hall of Fame.
Don was a founding member of the Burlington Coaching Association and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association. He was the original editor of The Point After (WFCA Football Publication). He is a past president of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association.
Don was involved in NIAAA and the Leadership Training Institute for Athletic Directors, writing curriculum and teaching leadership courses at the national level. He received the NIAAA Outstanding Contribution Award in 2003 and the NIAAA Distinguished Service Award in 2009.
Don was a principal founding member of the Partners Taskforce, an anti-drug and alcohol education program for the Burlington Area School District. He worked with Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson and Green Bay Packer legend Bart Starr. He was honored to be recognized for his service by being named one of the 1,000 Points of Light by President of the United States, George H. W. Bush.
Don is survived by his loving wife, Barbara. His children Dean (Donna) Dalton of Eden Prairie, Minn.; Amy (Geoff) Sheaves of Nashville, Tenn.; Tricia (Jerry) Hayes of Oconomowoc; Dan (Sue) De Lay of Muskego; Dori (Ed) Frank of Cincinnati, Ohio; Tim (Kristen) De Lay of Denver, Colo.; his grandchildren, Devon Dalton, Katie Fresolone, Davis Dalton, Michael Hayes, Anna Hayes, Ryan Sheaves, Willie Hayes, Henry Hayes, Christopher De Lay, Alexander De Lay, Sophia Calvert, Porter Feichtner and Georgia Feichtner. He is further survived by siblings John (Bobbi) Dalton and Peggy (Phil) Harris and numerous relatives and friends.
Don was preceded in death by his wife, Judy, their son, Ryan John, his parents Mervin and Lorraine and his brother, Tom.
A public celebration of life memorial service will be held on Friday, July 14, 2017, at 7 p.m. at Don Dalton Stadium, Burlington High School.
An official Facebook page can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/DemonDonDalton/.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Don’s name may be made to Waushara County Habitat for Humanity (345 S. Cambridge St, Wautoma, WI 54982) or the Burlington High School Athletic Department (400 McCanna Parkway, Burlington, WI 53105).
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