Dr. Donald “Don” M. Reed

Dr. Donald M. Reed, 73, passed away on Saturday, March 27, 2021, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
He was born in Milwaukee on March 25, 1948, to Earl and Marion (Mason) Reed. The family followed Earl’s career as an engineer for the Space Program, living in Kansas, California, and Florida. Don attended junior high and high school in Eau Gallie, FL, and considered that to be “home”. He came back to Milwaukee for college, earning a B.S. Degree in Biology and Geography from Carroll University, and an M.S. Degree in Botany/Zoology and a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He was united in marriage to the former Linda Evenson in 1995.

He started out in medical school but decided he wanted to be “outdoors” instead. From then on, preserving the environment became his passion. Don developed the Biology program at the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, where he worked from 1972 until his retirement in 2014. He was the Commission’s first Chief Biologist. He became a renowned expert regionally and statewide in the identification and delineation of wetlands, woodlands, and natural and environmental areas. He worked collaboratively with DNR, NOAA, and other agencies. He trained and mentored biologists for over 30 years, teaching wetland delineation, plant identification, and other courses and training through the Wisconsin Department of Administration Coastal Zone Management Program, Department of Natural Resources, US Environmental Protection Agency, UW La Crosse, Carroll University, Marquette University, UW-Extension, Riveredge Nature Center, Lac Lawrann Conservancy and other institutions. He was respected for his straight-forward opinions and served as a consultant to government agencies and the private sector. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Wisconsin Chapter of The Nature Conservancy for many years, as well as on boards of other environmental groups. The Kettle Moraine State Forest was especially dear to his heart and he served as president of the Kettle Moraine Natural History Association for more than 25 years. He also co-authored “Wetland Plants and Plant Communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin”, published by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Don worked on the Natural Areas and Critical Species Habitat Protection and Management Plan for Southeastern Wisconsin initiated in January 2006.

Donald was very proud of his Norwegian heritage. That is what brought he and Linda together, and they enjoyed participating in Sons of Norway and other cultural activities. They coordinated Norwegian Language classes at Norway House and set up Cultural Exhibits at Holiday Folk Fair for many years. He also coordinated the Barnebirkie Children’s Ski Race for Sons of Norway at the Waukesha JanBoree. He was past president of the Nordic Council of Wisconsin and past co-chair of the annual Scandinavian Festival. He had also been a member of the former Danish American Club.

He is survived by his wife, Linda, of New Berlin and his beloved Norwegian Forest Cats; his mother, Marion Reed; sister Ruth Reed and brothers Robert and James Reed of Florida; and brother David (Evelyn) Reed of California; Mother-in-law Ruth Johnson and Brother-in-law Ted (Allene) Evenson of Sparta, WI, and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his father, Earl Reed; sister Janet Eldred; an infant brother, Eric, and his brother-in-law, Arvid Glover.

Visitation Wednesday, March 31, 2021, at St. James Lutheran Church, 2028 North 60th Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 11:00 AM to 12:45 PM.  Funeral Service at 1:00 PM.  Interment Thursday, April 1, 2021, at 1:00 PM at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Sparta, WI. A celebration of Donald’s life will be held later this spring somewhere in the Kettle Moraine State Forest that he loved so much.

Family would ask that you wear masks and follow CDC guidelines for social distancing.

Memorials may be designated for the Kettle Moraine Natural History Association, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, or a charity of your choice.