Donald Lee Holewinski

Donald Holewinski, 77, passed away quietly at home on March 7, 2026.

Don was born on New Year’s Eve in 1948, in Neenah, Wisconsin. The family later moved to Fort Atkinson, where he graduated with the Class of 1967. He went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he met his wife, Jan, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science, and later an MBA.

Don was always deeply involved in his children’s activities, from kart racing and Scouts, to coaching soccer, baseball and Odyssey of the Mind. After retirement, he began his second and most important career as Grandpa and “manny”. At the age of 67, he joined grandson Mason in his taekwondo journey, eventually becoming a second-degree black belt and instructor. Amazingly, he had completed part of his third-dan testing requirement just a few months before his pancreatic cancer diagnosis. He was respected and beloved as a patient teacher and mentor to students at every level, from Little Tigers to fellow retired adults.

Many of his other pupils had four legs; hundreds of dogs and their owners have graduated from his training classes through the Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson. Most recently he discovered a new passion for agility training with his own dogs, in addition to logging many visits with the UW-Whitewater therapy dog program and helping coach the Rock County 4H Dog Project.

Diehard Warhawk fan. Black Belt. Dog whisperer. Expert modeler. Railroad enthusiast. History buff. Lego-master. Husband. Dad. Grandpa. Mentor. Friend. (And expert knitter!) Always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it.

Don is sadly missed by Jan, his wife of 54 years; his wonderful children, Michael (Molly Johannessen) and Meghan (Howard) Harris; his cherished grandchildren, Casey and Mason Harris; his taekwondo family, fellow dog lovers, model railroading pals, and the Corgi “pack “– Tegan, Cedar and Apollo. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

“It does not matter how big your house was or what kind of car you drove. All that matters is that you were important in the life of a child.”

Dunlap Memorial Home in Fort Atkinson is assisting the family.

www.DunlapMemorialHome.com

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