Donald G. Liljedahl (Don), age 84, of Maplewood, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, April 27, 2021.
Don was born to George and Ethel Liljedahl on December 5, 1936, and grew up in St. Paul. Don attended Blessed Sacrament School til 8th grade, then onto Johnson High School. He attended St. Paul Technical College where he received training to be a welder.
Don met the love of his life, Mary Ogura and they married on October 21, 1961, at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament. Don and Mary were married for 59 years, just shy of celebrating their 60th year anniversary. They bought a house not far from where Don and Mary grew up and started their family. In 1969, Ann was born, and 14 months later Lisa was born. Don worked as a welder for over 25 years. He was active in the Teamsters Union. In 1986, Don began working for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN DOT), where he was a snow plow driver and highway maintenance worker. Don retired in 1999 from MN DOT.
Don found even more love in his life when his grandchildren, Cole and Claire were born and they never did anything wrong in his eyes. He enjoyed attending Cole’s and Claire’s sporting events from when they were in kindergarten through their college years.
Don loved spending time at the cabin in Wisconsin, hunting and fishing, gambling and going to casinos, and watching the Vikings. Whenever the Vikings were playing you could hear him yelling from afar.
Don will be greatly missed by many. We are sad that he has left us, but we know that he is at peace and watching over us all from heaven. Don is survived by his devoted wife, Mary; daughters Ann (Rick) and Lisa; grandchildren, Cole and Claire; and other loving family members.
Private Memorial Mass 10:30 AM Tuesday May 4th, 2021 at Church of the Blessed Sacrament, St. Paul, MN with interment at Roselawn Cemetery, Roseville, MN.