Nordholm, Donald George, DDS (“Dr. Don”)

Of Brookfield.  Formerly of Wauwatosa.  Born to Eternal Life on Friday, August 30, 2024.  Age 95.  Predeceased by his beloved wife of 69 years, Lois.  Dear father of Jeffery (Anne) and Carl (Abbie).  Loving grandfather of Gregory (Lauren), Eric (Jessie) and Charles (Nicole) Nordholm and Madeline (Corey) VanGroll.  Loving great-grandfather of Scout, Elizabeth, Gabriel, Harrison, Claire, Max, Mae Lois and Holden.

Visitation Saturday, September 7, 2024 from 11:00 am until Time of Service at 12:00 Noon at Mount Carmel Lutheran Church, 8424 W. Center Street, Milwaukee.  Entombment at Wisconsin Memorial Park, 13235 W. Capitol Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to Mount Carmel Lutheran Church, Reformation Lutheran Church or Children’s Hospital are appreciated.

Don was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on February 18, 1929, to George and Anna Nordholm. He followed his father to Marquette University Dental School. There he met a young dental hygiene student named Lois Kettelhohn. They fell in love and were married on June 20, 1952 in Saginaw, Michigan, Lois’ home town. Don answered his country’s call and joined the U.S. Air Force dental corps during the Korean War.  Lois gave birth to their first son, Jeff, in July 1953, in Rantoul, Illinois, where Don was stationed as an Air Force dentist. Don achieved the rank of captain prior to his discharge. Lois and Don returned to Milwaukee where Don joined his father, Dr. George W. Nordholm, in the practice of dentistry. Second son Carl was born in 1955.

In the mid-1960s Lois joined Don’s dental practice as a hygienist and office manager. They were a formidable team and worked together until Dr. Don retired from practice in 2004.

Don had that delightful “dad” characteristic of being a tinkerer. He restored a wooden sailboat and a Triumph TR3. His basement and garage shops were a wonderland of tools, old radio parts, nuts and bolts, auto parts, soldering irons, grinding wheels and stuff nobody could figure out what it was for. His grandchildren especially loved finding the chocolate bars, peanuts and potato chips, things that Lois didn’t allow, hidden in his workbench drawers.

Most of all Don loved to fly. In his 60’s he renewed his pilot’s license and flew his Cessna 172 until he was in his 80’s. Always a learner, he was studying instrument flying right up to the time he decided to make his “final landing.”

Lois was his love and life-long friend and companion. Together they made wine and cross country skied. They traveled throughout the United States and abroad to England, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Egypt.

Don was committed to Mount Carmel Lutheran Church. He served as an usher and was active in its life and ministries.

We, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, will always hold his memory dear.