Donavon A. Nigg

Donavon A. Nigg, 79, Browns Valley, MN, passed away Sunday, September 15, 2013, at the Browns Valley Health Center.
Memorial services will be Saturday, September 28, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Browns Valley with Father David Breu officiating. Music will be provided by organist Norma Jung and vocalist Todd Johnson.
Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery, Browns Valley. Military honors will be provided by the William Krensing American Legion Post 58 of Browns Valley.
Donavon A. Nigg was born August 13, 1934, on the farm of his parents Toney and Lillian (Johnson) Nigg in Easter Township, Roberts County, SD. Toney and his brother Louie Nigg started farming in Easter Township before 1900 with their father Joseph Nigg. Donavon attended Easter #4 country school through fourth grade. He moved into Browns Valley, MN, in 1944 with his parents and went to the farm daily continuing to help with the farm work.
Donavon was baptized at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Browns Valley. He served as an altar boy when Fr. Kunkle was the priest. He continued with his schooling at the Browns Valley schools where he was involved with school sports, the band and the school glee club. Donavon enlisted in the US Navy with his great friend Marv Hornstein on November 19, 1952, and was honorably discharged August 5, 1955. For his service, he received the National Defense Service Medal and the Navy Occupation Service Medal. He relocated to St. Louis, MO, where he attended Rankin Trade School for Heating and Refrigeration.
Donavon married Donna Coolbroth in August 1957 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Browns Valley. He continued in the Heating & A/C field in St. Louis and in Portland, OR, until his retirement in 1983. He returned to Browns Valley in 1996 but then moved to warmer weather in Green Valley, AZ, from 2002 through 2006 before needing the care of the Browns Valley Health Center.
Donavon enjoyed traveling to England, France, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany. He also loved his many hobbies of hunting, fishing and collecting beer memorabilia.
Donavon was a loving father to his children, Danelle (Wayne) Downer of Washougal, WA, DeAnn (Steve) Johnson of Albany, OR, Darren Nigg of Portland, OR, Darlynn Taylor of Maui, Hawaii, and Donavon (Kim) Nigg, Jr., of Battle Ground, WA. He is survived by one brother, Jerry (Audrey) Nigg of Green Valley, AZ; one sister, Agnes "Sis" Torgerson, a resident of the BVHC; one brother-in-law, James Schwagerl, a resident of the BVHC; and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Donavon was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Raymond, Merville, Laverne "Budd", Kenneth, Leo, Bernard, and Glenn; and sisters, Berniece "Girlie" Granoski and Delores Schwagerl.
Donavon was a good man with many friends and will be forever missed.