Ward Donnell McDonald

Walk With Grace

Richland County Bank

Attention: Margie

PO Box 677

Richland Center, Wisconsin 53581

How do you put into words, in a short time frame, the life of someone that has lived to be 90 years young and had so many accomplishments and touched so many lives?

Ward D McDonald had just turned 18 years old when he went aboard the USS Goodhue APA-107 to face active duty in WWII in 1945. He joined the Navy on Feb 16, 1944 and went to boot camp in Farragut, Idaho then Signalman School for 6 weeks and another 6 weeks of Amphibious Training in San Diego before heading to the Pacific battle front on the USS Goodhue. His job of Signalman Striker, First Class was sending messages to and from the ship and to other ships. It was critical that the messages were accurate and Ward was good at his job. As he said many times, it was a war that we had to win.

This lucky man of The Greatest Generation survived a Kamikaze crash on the ship that killed approximately 150 men in the area he was located. He was the only one to survive the devastation as he was blown through the black-out doors and into a steel wall. He faced death every day for the duration of his service. He was a boy when he went into the war and his life was forever changed as a result of what he experienced and witnessed.

After years of keeping the horrors of his war experiences to himself, he started attending the Goodhue shipmate’s reunions and told of his war memories and heard the stories of others. He wondered why God had spared him when so many around him didn’t make it home. Many of the shipmates felt the same way.

It wasn’t until after September 11, 2001 that he noticed people began thanking him for his service during WWII.

Ward touched many lives in his 90 years. He leaves behind a list of accomplishments that makes him a legend in Washington in his younger years and a legend in Wisconsin in later years. He would not think of himself as a legend, he was just doing the best he could and he had a lot of great ideas that came to fruition. He will be remembered as a positive and determined man that set high standards for himself.

Ward considers his greatest accomplishment his Jaycee project in 1962 prior to the Seattle World’s Fair. He called it “Paint Up, Fix Up, Clean Up” Redmond, WA. He had approximately 350 volunteers and eventually had to get a co-chairman to help coordinate the project. It took over a year to plan and complete the work. Every business was painted and most of the houses. Fences were fixed and sidewalks repaired. Sherwin-Williams Paint helped select the color scheme and as Ward told the story he was smiling and said the town “shined like a new penny”. The population of Redmond was approximately 1,000. Ward was named one of three outstanding young men in the state of Washington in 1962.

He also received the Community Service Award in 1962 from the American Motors Company for his work on the Redmond project and won a 4 day trip to the University of California in Berkley to study the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) that was just being installed.

During the World’s Fair he organized a Raft Race from Redmond to Bothell with 24 Jaycee clubs from Western Washington participating. He held the office of Vice President for the Jaycees in Washington and was also elected to the National Board of Directors for one year at the national meeting in Oklahoma City.

Ward grew up in the Seward Park area of Seattle. After returning from the war, he spent his freshman and sophomore years attending St Martin’s College in Lacey, WA, studying engineering. He transferred to the University of Washington in Seattle and studied business administration and business law.

Life events took Ward to Richland Center, WI in 1969. His destiny was to become a Vice President and Loan Officer at the Richland County Bank and his mathematical skills, gift of gab and outgoing personality served him well.

Ward’s job at the bank put him in a position of influence in the community. He was in a position to help people acquire loans to get their start in farming or business or acquire a new home or car. He loved his job and spent nearly 30 years doing what he loved, helping people get ahead and better their lives. He always had that smiling face and a twinkle in his eyes that said he was glad to see you when you walked in the bank.

His community efforts and ideas improved Richland Center and the surrounding area for the better. He was appointed the Chairman of a committee to investigate and build a Sheltered Workshop for 48 physically and mentally challenged individuals. It was a 2 year project to acquire the land and funds to build the facility. He was also appointed to the committee to locate and hire the new director of the facility. They found a good one in Randy Jacquet, who just recently retired.

During the Sheltered Workshop project, Ward was asked by Governor, Tommy Thompson to serve on the Drug & Alcohol Abuse Programs for the State of Wisconsin. He chose rather to work on those problems in Richland County to help solve those same problems closer to home. Judge Ed Lineweber and Ward collaborated to get the state law changed to keep fines within the county rather than being sent to Madison. The fines became forfeitures and kept the money within the county and the Richland County Council on Drug & Alcohol Abuse was formed. Ward & Ed’s idea was replicated in 42 counties in Wisconsin.

One day John Benson, who came up with “Come to Marlboro Country” for Philip Morris came to see Ward at the bank. He would put up $50.00 for first prize for an anti-drug campaign using only 7 words. Ward got the word out to the Richland and Ithaca elementary schools and approximately 50 poster were considered for judging. A local committee narrowed it down to 11 and they decided there had to be 3 places – money was gathered for 2nd place - $30.00 and 3rd place- $20.00. The top 11 posters and children went to Madison to meet with Governor Tommy Thompson and President Ronald Reagans head of Drug & Alcohol Abuse Programs in WDC. They made the final decision on the top three winners. The winning poster pictured a trash can with 2 legs sticking out and the words “Don’t Throw Your Life Away On Drugs”. This poster was put on billboards all across the country. Ward remembers the little boy that won was the only boy in the group that was wearing a suit and tie to meet the Governor.

The “Walk With Grace” organization in Richland Center, Wisconsin was formed in 2004 to help cancer patients in need within the geographic area to help with expenses, whatever they may be.

The Relay for Life sponsored by the American Cancer Society was amazed at the generosity of the Richland Center people and surrounding communities. Two years in a row this small farming community in Southwest Wisconsin had the largest donation for a town that size. The chairman, Rob Rynes received an all-expense paid trip twice to attend a national awards ceremony. This was on eye-opening experience for him and the expense that must be involved.

When a man in Richland Center needed some financial help so he contacted the American Cancer Society to see if there was some assistance with travel expenses for his treatments in Madison. He was denied. Ward and other community- minded leaders saw a need for local assistance and formed the “Walk With Grace” organization. Most of the money raised from the annual walk stays in the area to help people that are in need and a percentage is still donated to the American Cancer Society.

Ward wore many hats in his 90 years:

Son, Brother, Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Sea Scout, Friend, Shipmate, U.S. Navy Signalman aboard the USS Goodhue APA 107 during WWII, Husband, Father, Salesman, Vice-President – Richland County Bank, Board of Directors – Richland County Bank, Member of the University of Wisconsin Foundation Board, Creator & Chairman of the Richland County Council on Drug & Alcohol Abuse, State Vice-President of Washington State Jaycees, elected Jaycees National Board of Directors, Vice President of Washington Steelhead Trout Club, Secretary/Treasurer for the USS Goodhue WWII shipmates reunion and sent a quarterly newsletter, fisherman, hiker, beekeeper, Back Road Express biker with the motto “Ride to Eat, Eat to Ride”, encourager, poet, speaker, historian, positive thinker, elf, Santa Claus, traveler & wanderer of backroads – covering 155,000 miles and sleeping in tents and visiting his Goodhue shipmates & family along the way.

What an interesting and exciting life. He lived to the fullest every day God gave him.

Ward leaves memories on the hearts of family and friends who loved him:

He married his High School sweetheart, Ruth Jane Harman, in Seattle in 1948. To that union three sons were born:

Bruce Donnell, Brian Ward & Ward Allan.

All are living in the Washington area with their spouses, Bruce & Jeanie, Brian & Kelly, Ward & Joy. There are five grandchildren: Nicole & Spouse Tony Blackwell & Janelle; Aaron & spouse Samantha; Ward D. & Sherylene and two Great-Grandchildren: Aidyn Blackwell & Amelia McDonald

He married Virginia Kuhls Paust, in Seattle in 1963 and relocated to Richland Center, Wisconsin in 1969. To that union a daughter and two sons were born:

Julie Ann, Allan Martin & Jarrett Andrew

And step-son Jimmie Kuhls

Allan is living in the Washington area with his spouse, Kristin and children Haley and Marley

Julie is divorced and her children are Robbie Dosch, Paige, Cassandra and Zachery Mullen

Jarrett stayed in Richland Center and is married to Sue. Their children are Leah, Evan and Alec.

His third marriage was to Bernice Borton (Patch) in Richland Center, Wisconsin in 1976. There were no children from this marriage. Ward became a step-father and grandfather when he married Bernice.

Bernice’s children are Bob Bender (spouse – Ellen) and Bill Borton (spouse – Sally).

The Grandchildren Rob Bender (spouse – Tammy) and Anne Bender Wallace (spouse – Don) and Bekah Borton Knab (spouse – Dave)

This was a long-lasting and happy marriage. Ward cared for Bernice near the end of her life as she slipped further and further into the loss of her memory with Alzheimer’s disease. He had to make a decision that was one of the most difficult he had to make. Bernice spent her last few months in the Pine Valley Care Facility, where she received excellent care and Ward visited her every day until the very end of her life in 2005.

His fourth and final marriage was to Rosie Hale (Nicholas) formerly of Richland Center but relocated to be near family in North Carolina in 2004. They married in 2007 and lived in Elizabeth City, NC until Rosie’s retirement from the Farm Service Agency in 2015. They had many happy years together traveling as much as possible and attending the annual shipmate’s reunions across the country. Work interfered.

In May of 2014 Ward was diagnosed with MDS a red-cell blood disease at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN after only 6 days. He had been seeing a physician’s assistant in NC for 2 ½ years that put him through test after test and thought he was bleeding when actually his bone marrow wasn’t making healthy red blood cells. Ward had his first transfusion at Mayo.

We are so grateful to Michele and David Vanderburg for getting us to the Mayo Clinic. She was the Bone Marrow Transplant Coordinator at the Mayo Clinic until MS reared its ugly head and she resigned. David works with pacemakers. They have been with us every step of the way in this battle. They literally saved Ward’s life.

In September of 2014 we finally found a wonderful MDS Specialist at the Duke Cancer Center on the University campus in Durham, NC. We went for a week each month until September of 2015 when we relocated to Washington. Ward came to start his treatment at the Seattle Cancer Alliance and stayed with family while Rosie flew home and completed the move.

Christmas was an especially happy and magical time for Ward & Rosie. While in NC, Rosie became Mrs. Claus and Ward became the Head Elf – driving her to events all over the area and on the Outer Banks. The Candy Bomber came every year to the airport in Manteo, NC in December for a candy drop re-enactment of the Berlin Airlift. One year, Gail Halverson, the pilot that had the idea to drop candy for the children over Berlin met Ward and it was as if they had been friends for a lifetime. Two dynamic personalities discussed their life experiences while Santa and Mrs. Claus talked to the children.

He also became a charming Elf in glorious costume, and handed out candy to children along the Christmas parade route. He was cold in his red & white striped tights so he soon resigned from that position. He was a good sport.

Christmas of 2015 was a special year for Ward, he became Santa for his five year old great-granddaughter, Amelia in Rainier, WA with Mrs. Claus nearby. It was a night to remember, many happy memories came from that night.

Ward turned 90 on March 11, 2016 and he got his wish of a lifetime. He wanted all five of his boys to be together in one place. That happened at his celebration at home with 23 family members and 1 guest that was like Ward’s 6th son. He was so happy and I was so happy too that it finally happened. Ward received 178 birthday cards from friends and family from all over the country. They started coming in February and added so much joy each day leading up to the party. Ward wondered how so many people knew it was his birthday. Rosie told friends that she wanted to make what time Ward had left as enjoyable and happy as possible. He had that far-side sense of humor until the end.

Ward’s passing was peaceful and he was at home in his beloved Washington. All of his sons had recently been to see him as well as his Grandson and namesake, Ward Donnell.

Ward’s first son Bruce and third son Ward were here to surround Ward in prayers and love along with Rosie and Grace. Grace Godfre, a friend that Rosie met at the hospital, was the angel sent by God to help comfort and support them in the transition from this life to the heavenly realm. She was an answer to prayer.

Ward leaves behind a special cousin, Hal Lamon that was like a brother to him, nieces and nephews, friends and shipmates from coast to coast.

Kahil Gibran wrote these words that Ward so loved:

I shall pass through this world but once.

Any good therefore that I can do or any

Kindness that I can show to any human being,

Let me do it now.

Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall

Not pass this way again.

In conclusion, Ward added;

If this is the case, whether you lose or win,

If given half a chance I’d like to try it again.