Don C. Ward

Don Ward, age 76, a lifelong resident of Green Bay, entered eternal life on February 21, 2021. He was born on August 28, 1944, in Green Bay to Vernon and Audrey (Papenfus) Ward, and born again into the Kingdom of God in September of 2000.

Don considered it a privilege to serve with the men and women of the Green Bay Fire Department for 30 years. He had utmost respect for his fellow firefighters and for members of the Green Bay Police Department.

The happiest times of Don's life were those spent with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, whom he loved more than anything besides his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Don was blessed with and is survived by 5 children: Theresa Lynn (Terri) Ambrosius and her husband Rob, Lisa Marie Leiterman, Jeffrey Vernon (Jeff) Ward and his wife Cindy, Kalyn Leigh Stephens and her husband Seth, and Cole Robert Ward. Don has 16 grandchildren: Lindsay (Jim) Pruski, Emily Neu; Samantha, Alexandra (Alex) and Jack Leiterman; Elliott, Seth, and Hope Ward; Madyson, Callie, Lauren, and Kinley Stephens; Lauren, Brooke and Abby Ambrosius, and Stef Lopez; and 4 great-grandchildren: Samuel and Mila Pruski, Wyatt Leiterman, and Evelyn Rodriguez. Don is also survived by Gerrie Ward (mother of Terri, Lisa and Jeff) and Wendy Gilley (mother of Kalyn and Cole); a sister, Mary Lynn James, and 3 sisters-in-law, Joanne Ward, Mary Ward and Charlotte Ward.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Audrey Ward; his brothers, Ken Ward, Robert Ward and Darrell Ward; one grandson, Joshua Jeffrey Ward, paternal grandparents, Charles and Hattie (VanBeckum) Ward, and maternal grandparents, Edward and Emily (DeMaiffe) Papenfus, and many other relatives who blessed Don's life.

Don's prayer for all who survive him is that they will accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior before they leave this earth. If anyone is not familiar with what the scripture says about this most important decision, please read the books of John and Romans in the KJV Bible.

Visitation will be held at Spring Lake Church (2240 Klondike Rd., Green Bay) on Friday, February 26, 2021 from 4-6 pm. A funeral service will be held at 6:15 pm after the Green Bay Fire Department Honor Guard offers their final salute. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Little Suamico.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Don's name will be donated to the charities that Don held close to his heart.

Don's family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff in the ICU at Bellin Hospital. It was Don's personal wish to thank Pastor Mark Englebert who led him to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.