Donald J. "Don" Tessmer Jr.

Donald Tessmer ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Ritchay Funeral Home - Wisconsin Rapids on Mar. 17, 2026.Donald ("Don") J. Tessmer Jr., age 76, formerly of Wisconsin Rapids, passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at Oakwood Village - Madison, WI.Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 23, 2026, at Ritchay Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids at 11:00am. Per Don's strict (and repeatedly expressed) instructions: no ties, please. Burial will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be held Monday from 9-11 a.m. at Ritchay Funeral Home.Don was born on July 14, 1949, in Wisconsin Rapids to Donald Sr. and Betsy (Thurber) Tessmer. He married the love of his life, Carol, on October 2, 1971, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Cudahy. Don proudly graduated from UW-Madison with a bachelor's degree in zoology and spent over 29 years in purchasing at Consolidated Papers before deciding to "shake things up" with a late-career switch to Wisconsin Public Service.Don was a collector of collections - he never met an antique store, flea market, or travel opportunity he didn't like. His attention to detail was legendary, as was his motto: "measure five times, cut once." (Except that one time he measured only four times and ended up proving why the motto exists.) He was especially revered for his gift of feeding a family of five from a single pound of hamburger - an art form that, tragically, none of his sons ever mastered.Don is survived by his three amazing, brilliant, and incredibly patient daughters in law: Dawn (David) Tessmer of Kewaunee, WI; McKenya (Thomas) Tessmer of Fayetteville, AR; and Brandi (Michael) Tessmer of Evansville, WI. He is also survived by his three favorite grandchildren: Daxton, Aislynn, and Zelia Tessmer. He never stopped believing each possessed a lot of unrealized talent.He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, his sister Terry, and his faithful dog Putz.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to your favorite charity.To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.