Don Laibly

Don A. Laibly



On the morning of January 29, 2015, Don Laibly passed away peacefully. He was being cared for and comforted by his daughter, Sherry Mastaglio and son-in-law, Kalen Bjorge in their home with the help of the Ministry Health Hospice team.

Don Laibly was born in Park Ridge, Ill. on October 7, 1941. He was the only child of the late Clarence and Lucille Laibly. He spent most of his childhood vacationing in the Northwoods, Wisconsin with dear family and friends. He spent most of his adult life in Minocqua and Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin.

Don attended St Augustana College where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1961. He worked tirelessly at Howard Young Medical Center in the Laboratory and Clinic. But the work that Don is best known for is his incredibly artistic accomplishments as a master carver, woodworker and sign maker for his company Dimensional Graphics. All throughout the Northwoods are hand-carved, finely detailed, wood working signs of Don’s. He also designed and built his own wooden home and deck with walkways leading out over the marsh to his swimming “pond”, he created lights out of tree bark, clocks and coffee tables out of tree logs, and designed a spectacular Christmas “wonderland” in his yard, amongst many other hand-made creations.

Don had many hobbies and interests. His biggest love was the Northwoods and Little Star Lake, where he resided in his final years and where his body will be laid to rest. He spent countless hours throughout his life collecting rocks, shells, bugs, butterflies, National Geographics and pulleys. He was a lover of all animals and was very involved with the Northwoods Wildlife Center in Minocqua. He also loved the times he spent with friends and family camping, fishing, hunting, canoeing, boating, skiing, RVing, snowmobiling, flea marketing and traveling throughout the United States, especially the Florida Keys.

Don also thoroughly enjoyed everything about food including eating it, talking about it, and cooking it. He especially liked exotic types of food and it was not uncommon to find him eating sardines, smoked oysters, marzi pan, petit fours, smoked fish, pig’s head, camping potatoes, wild or fried rice; all while drinking a Pepsi or an Old Fashioned and smoking a cigarette or 2.

Don is survived by his 5 children, Sherry Mastaglio of Wisconsin Rapids, Shawn Laibly of OshKosh, Thor Laibly of Madison, Brandi Handel of New Jersey and Chad Laibly of Madison. He was known as "Grandpa Lollipop" to his 12 grandchildren- Sarah, Luke, Cassie, Paul, Danielle, Ryan, Jade, Joey, Tristan, Tess, Amanda and Adrian and always seemed to have lollipops ready to hand out to them. His beloved cat Abby was at his side at all times. Don’s legacy will live on through his family and his creations.

Services for Don Laibly will be held at Nimsgern Funeral Home Chapel in Woodruff, Wisconsin at 1:00 PM on Thursday February 5, 2015 with a visitation from 11am-1pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Northwoods Wildlife Center in Minocqua, WI or to the American Heart Association.