Don Stehr

Donald Dean Stehr was born on July 17, 1935, the son of Albert and Genevieve (Johnson) Stehr, in rural Kiron, Iowa. He was baptized as a Christian and later confirmed as an adult into the Lutheran faith. Don received his education at Boyer Stockholm #8 and graduated from Deloit High School with the Class of 1953. He often joked that he graduated “in the top seven” of his class, because there were seven students. After graduation, he spent the summer in Chamberlain, South Dakota, pursuing his dream of becoming a professional baseball player until an injury changed his path.

He began working at Rattenburg Produce and later at the Denison Newspaper. In 1961, Don joined the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy sheriff, and that August, he was appointed interim sheriff. He was later elected to the position and officially began his duties as Crawford County Sheriff in 1965, serving the community with dedication until 1988. Following his law enforcement career, he worked for Job Corps for several years before enjoying a well-deserved retirement. Don also served the community as the Mayor of Denison.

On August 8, 1954, Don married Sharon Winey. They were blessed with three children: Jeffrey, Jill, and Judi. The family made their home in Denison, and for a time, even lived at the jail where Sharon cooked for the prisoners. Sharon passed away on September 5, 1981.

On January 8, 1993, Don married Sandra Boettger. Together they were blessed to raise Kara and blend their families, making their home in Denison.

Don was a faithful member of Our Savior Lutheran Church and an active part of the community, belonging to the Blue Knights Motorcycle Club and many other local organizations. He coached Little League and Senior League baseball and enjoyed playing slow-pitch softball for many years. In his free time, Don loved hunting, fishing, and relaxing by the family pond. He was also a talented woodworker and creator, known for his craftsmanship. He enjoyed watching Westerns and Fox News, making countless trips to Sturgis on his motorcycle, and going out to eat with friends on Friday nights. Above all, Don cherished his family. They were his greatest joy, and he loved every moment spent with them.

Don passed away on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison at the age of 90 years, three months and 18 days. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Sharon Stehr; son, Jeff Stehr; and grandson, Brian Stehr.

Don is survived by his wife, Sandra Stehr of Denison; children: Jill Grell of Lawton, Judi (Larry) Castle of Mapleton and Kara (Tyler) Shipley of Carroll; grandchildren: Randy (Renae) Grell, Tiffany (Julius) Samuelson, Tara Castle, Kateland (Cruz) McClelland, Elsie Shipley and Josh Castle; great-grandchildren: Landon, Koen, Gavin, Vaeda, Aaliyah, Theo, Hallie, Zoey and Xander; and many other family members and friends.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at the Huebner Funeral Home in Denison. His funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, November 10, 2025, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Denison. Interment will follow in Crawford Heights Memory Gardens. The family will direct memorials.