Beloved Eau Claire businessman remembered [The Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, Wis.]

March 20--Dave Donnellan was a man greatly admired and respected in Eau Claire.

The longtime businessman died Tuesday at home. He was 90.

While highly successful in the business world, his extreme love and appreciation for family and the Eau Claire community were plainly exhibited.

In fact, Donnellan, a city native, turned down an invitation to try out for the Green Bay Packers to instead begin a business career in Eau Claire in 1948.

"He was always very easy to talk to and get along with, and would never offend anyone," said Dr. Robert Fink of Eau Claire, a longtime friend. "He was so adaptive and jovial.

"He loved his family and was the kind of person who wouldn't sacrifice his principles," Fink continued. "He was very congenial and took into consideration another's viewpoint. He was always such a pleasure to be around."

Donnellan graduated from Eau Claire Senior High School and earned a scholarship to UW-Madison, where he earned three varsity letters on the Badgers' football team. His time in Madison was interrupted by World War II, in which he served in the 8th Armored Division in the European Theater and the Battle of the Bulge, earning the Bronze Star for bravery.

After graduation, Donnellan worked in the insurance business and started Donnellan Real Estate in 1948. He continued in the real estate business, eventually working with sons Ned and Dan, two of his eight children, until about five years ago.

"That seemed to always be the question: When did Dad really retire?" Dan said with admiration Tuesday. "He had a great sense of humor, and you just loved being around him. We were really blessed to have him for a father."

Dave Donnellan, Owen Ayres and John Menard were in the first class of inductees in 2009 into the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce'sBusiness Hall of Fame.

"He was a great man," Menard said Tuesday of Donnellan. "Eau Claire is going to miss him. He and Owen and guys like that were gentlemen in the true sense of the word. They stood for something in a good way, a quiet way. They knew how to get things done in a proper, civil manner."

Jim Theisen, owner of J. Theisen Inc., worked with Donnellan as part of Donnellan-Theisen Inc. from 1976 to 1989.

"He was a great man to work with; just a very good individual," Theisen said Tuesday. "He let a person use their own talents and allowed them to bring that out in themselves. He was a very honest person who had a lot of admirable qualities."

Donnellan's companies developed many residential and office structures in the community and was involved with the development of Chippewa Valley Industrial Park on Eau Claire's northeast side. He was involved in a multitude of civic and community groups, including 10 years on the City Council (1959-69), serving three terms as president.

Dave FitzGerald of Eau Claire, who was a three-term president of the Realtors Association of Northwestern Wisconsin, worked for Donnellan for two years in the mid-1980s.

"He was an extremely nice guy and had a long-standing reputation as a great real estate businessman," FitzGerald said. "Dave always had kind words to say."

Arrangements are pending at Fuller-Speckien-Hulke Funeral Home in Eau Claire.

Rupnow can be reached at 715-830-5831, 800-236-7077 or [email protected].

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