Donald Joseph Kofron, 101, of Austin, Minnesota, died Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017.

Don was born Nov. 29, 1916, in Mason City, Iowa, to Frank and Lillian (Zabokrtsky) Kofron. He graduated from Mason City High School in 1933 and married Dorris Birdsell on May 11, 1941. Following their wedding Don and Dorris lived in California, New Mexico, and Mississippi during Don’s Army Air Corps pilot training. After completing his military service as a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot in World War II, Don and Dorris lived in Iowa City, Iowa, for several years. During this time their son Phillip was born and Don graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in business. In 1950, Don, Dorris and Phillip moved to Austin, where Don resided for 67 years.

Don led a full, rich life of 101 years as a dedicated husband, father, neighbor and friend. His life’s work was as a food scientist in research and development at Hormel Foods, Inc. His role at Hormel included work in Austin as well as Japan, the Philippines and Australia. Don was a long-standing member of First United Methodist Church, where he participated in various committees and sang in the church choir.

Don greatly cared about his friends, his caregivers, and his Kofron, Birdsell, Bast, and McGlaughlin family, including being Grandpa Don to the Rogers. He greatly enjoyed the outdoors, especially hiking in the Colorado mountains and fishing at Lake Koronis and the Rainy River, conversations, golf, big band and classical music, ballroom dancing, singing, watercolor and oil painting, designing and fixing things, woodworking and reading. Don was known for his exuberant zest for life and almost always was “up for anything.”

Survivors include Don’s son, Phillip (Marilynn) Kofron; nieces, Sharon (Larry) Dixon, Linda Johnston, and Nancy Whipple; and nephew, Richard (Donna) Long. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Lillian (Zabokrtsky) Kofron; baby brother; wife, Dorris (Birdsell) Kofron; sisters-in-law, Mildred (Birdsell) Pattschull, June (Klinge) Birdsell, and Lucille (Birdsell) Long Trimble; brothers-in-law, Dale Pattschull, Don Birdsell, Wayne Long, and Turner Trimble; and nephew, Gary (Donna) Pattschull.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, at First United Methodist Church in Austin with Pastor Dennis Tamke officiating. Visitation will be on Friday for one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post 91 and VFW 1216. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First United Methodist Church in Austin, Minnesota.

Condolences may be left online at www.mayerfh.com