Donald A. Derleth, age 87, passed away October 11th, 2024, at Sauk Prairie Healthcare. He was born in Sauk City the son of Ralph and Alice (Rooney) Derleth, on December 25th, 1936.

Donnie was raised in the Sauk City area he attended the area schools and graduated in 1954 he also played football when he was in school. Over the years he enjoyed playing baseball, hunting out in Colorado with his longtime friend Leon Leatherbery and others and being on the Prairie du Sac Fire department.

He was a US veteran having served in the Army, being Honorably Discharged, August 1964. Then in 1964 he entered the Prairie du Sac Fire Department, he started out first hose line at the Sauk Prairie Junior high fire in 1965. During his tender which started in 1964 Chief Derleth served in various roles including mechanic, lieutenant, and Captain and was named firefighter of the year by his peers, multiple times.

He also assisted in the design and remodel of the current fire station in 1995. In his 55 years of service to the fire department Chief Derleth was always reliable and active in fundraising for the department and was an inspiration when he came to cleaning and maintaining the fire station.

He retired Assistant Fire Chief Donald A. Derleth on June 30th, 2019.

Donnie is survived by his daughter, Donna (Ken) Anderson, Wi., and son, Donald (Donna Rohrer) Derleth, in Arizona, granddaughter, Victoria in Colorado, significant other Darleen Maier, Sauk City, sister, Flora (Bob) Pings, Sauk City and their kids Kevin and Jennifer and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death his parents, Ralph and Alice and sisters, Katherine Wilson, Mini Schultz, Lorraine Folsom, and grandson, Sheine Derleth.

My father was a complicated man, but we know for a fact that he loved his service with the Prairie du Sac Fire department, and his time on the baseball field and the folks that he played with, and he loved this town and the folks that are in it, he will be missed.

We would like to take a minute and thank all the folks at the Sauk Prairie healthcare hospital in Sauk City for making dad's last days a little easier, all the veterans help all the fireman's help that came and visited them and was there when he left, we appreciate all of you very much, thank you.

Private services were held.