Patrick Joseph Donahue

Patrick Donahue, 77, Wakonda, SD passed away Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at his home.

Patrick Joseph Donahue, son of James and Eileen (Fitzgerald) Donahue, was born October 31, 1948, at Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, SD. He grew up on the family farm, east of Wakonda, graduating from Wakonda High School in 1967. He attended USD-Springfield and Nettleton College. In 1970, Patrick joined the United States Army and served his country as a Military Policeman in Germany. After his service, Patrick attended SDSU and then returned home to farm with his dad.

Patrick grew up with five siblings…playing Fox and Goose in the snow, skating on Frog Creek, and on most winter Sundays, Patrick would make homemade ice cream with their own cream. In the summer, the siblings would play softball (Kitten Ball) with their dad after supper…a favorite sport. Swimming, cultivating, planting, pulling weeds from the fields, playing card games of Whist and 500, playing with cousins, saying the rosary under the stars…. too many memories to mention.

On September 6, 1980 Patrick married Teresa Fremd from Denver, CO at St. Lambert’s Catholic Church in Sioux Falls, SD. Patrick and Teresa were married almost 46 years. They made their home and raised their three children on the family farm.

Patrick and his dad Jim loved farming and they did so together until his father retired. He was passionate that his fields be spotless, and he was not afraid to be specific about how this was accomplished! One highlight included visiting Waterloo, IA with his son John to observe the construction of his John Deere 7610.

Watching sports was a favorite pastime. You would often find him at Frost Arena or anywhere he could support the SDSU Jacks. He spent many years playing baseball with the Renner Monarchs and other teams in the region. First base, catcher, and pitcher were his spots. The Chicago White Sox were the team of choice to watch.

Patrick’s love for sports took him on a variety of travels. Numerous trips were made with his family to watch the Chicago Bears, whether it be games at Soldier Field in Chicago or training camps in Platteville, WI & Bourbonnais, IL. He never turned down the opportunity to attend a professional baseball game, with one of his favorite memories being at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. His military travels all over Europe included attendance at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Always interested in military memorials, he loved his visits to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

One of Patrick’s finest qualities was his thoughtfulness. Patrick loved to visit with people – family, close and extended; neighbors, friends, and new acquaintances. He would always ask how you were doing and was so genuinely interested in people. Patrick would notice everyday things that were needed and get to work providing them without fanfare.

Patrick was a lifelong member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, where he was a sacristan, lector, and a member of St. Patrick’s Knights of Columbus. Patrick so enjoyed watching his kids in their sporting activities and musical endeavors. He was loved by his wife, Teresa, and three children, Christine, John, and Brian. He loved his four grandsons immensely and treasured the time he spent with them. Patrick had found a spot on the farmland that was Seamus and Sully’s hideout. He had been thinking of ways to improve it and prepare for Oliver and Rory to join as they got older.

Patrick was preceded in death by his father in 2011, his mother in 2016, and grandparents John and Ella Dwyer Donahue and Mike and Nell Christopher Fitzgerald. Patrick is survived by his wife, Teresa, Wakonda; his three children Christine (Tom) Schelske and their sons, Seamus, Sullivan, and Rory, Sioux Falls; John Donahue, Sioux Falls; and Brian (Kelli) Donahue and their son, Oliver, Sioux Falls. Five siblings and in-laws, Kathleen (Jim) Koenig, Tyndall, SD; Mary (Wayne) O’Connor, Faribault, MN; JoEllen (Virgil) Klein, Dell Rapids, SD; James Donahue, San Francisco, CA; and Brigetta (Steve) Klein, Sioux Falls, SD and sister-in-law, Peggy Fremd, Clayhatchee, AL and brother-in-law, Ted (Skylar) Fremd, Dayville, OR and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and neighbors.

The family would like to thank the team at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital for the wonderful care that Patrick received. Memorials may be directed to St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery Association or Avera @ Home Hospice, Yankton SD.