Donald “Don” Bartylla

Donald “Don” Bartylla entered eternal life on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 (the Commemoration of St. Thomas Becket, Bishop, Martyr) at the age of 90 years. He will be dearly missed by his devoted wife of 66 years, Carol, and his loving children: David (Carol), Msgr. James, and Thomas; by his granddaughter, Emily, and by nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends.

Don’s early years were spent on a farm in Browerville, Minnesota. His family moved to Milwaukee during his teen years. As a teenager, Don and his friends left Milwaukee on a bicycle trip to Niagara Falls, New York, and back.

Don worked as an apprentice and journeyman Tool and Die Maker at Cutler-Hammer (Eaton Corp.) for twenty-eight years. As a musician, an accordionist, his band, “The Melody Men”, played weddings and private parties over a twenty-two year period. Don loved developing real-estate projects, his last being the 2323 Office Centre in West Allis, Wisconsin, where he made many lasting friendships. He was a joyful person to be with and treated people with kindness and respect.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 18, 2021, at Mother of Perpetual Help Parish (Mary Queen of Heaven Church), 2322 South 106th Street, West Allis, Wisconsin, at 11:00 am. The Reverend Monsignor James Bartylla, Vicar General of the Diocese of Madison, will celebrate the Holy Mass, with The Most Reverend Donald J. Hying, Bishop of Madison, in choir.

The Funeral Mass will be videotaped and displayed later on the parish website at mphwa.org.

A visitation at Mary Queen of Heaven Church will be held on Monday, January 18, 2021, from 9:00 AM until the start of the Holy Mass. Covid-19 restrictions and precautions apply to the visitation and Mass. Private interment will take place at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, following the Funeral Mass.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Valley of Our Lady Monastery’s Campaign to build a new Cistercian monastery.

Gifts may be sent to: Valley of Our Lady, E11096 Yanke Drive, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, 53578

or given online, in memory of Donald Bartylla, at https://build.valleyofourlady.org.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.