Donald William Bode, age 91 of New Ulm died peacefully on Monday, March 13, 2023, at his home in Courtland.

Funeral service will take place at 11 am on Friday, March 17, 2023, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Courtland.  Pastor Wayne Bernau will officiate, and burial will follow in the church cemetery following the service where full military honors will be provided by the Nicollet Honor Guard.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm on Thursday, March 16 ^th at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home-North Chapel in New Ulm, and continue from 10-11 am on Friday at the church in rural Courtland.

To leave an online condolence for his family, or to sign the guestbook, go to: mvfh.org

Don is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Margo Bode of Courtland; his sons, Randy (Sara) Bode of Courtland; Terry (Rachell Welsch) Bode of Nicollet; his four grandchildren, Ben Bode of Mankato, Travis (Laura) Bode of Maple Grove, Kaitlyn (Eric) Braesch of Shakopee, Riley Gieseke of Courtland; his sisters, Bernice Thompson of St. Peter, Marcella Ohland of Hutchinson, Lois (Donald) Ditzler of Manchester, Missouri, Geraldine (Gary) Schmidt of North Mankato, Sharon Osborne of St. Peter, Virginia Jakobe of Mankato; sister-in-law, Lynn Bode of New Ulm; brothers-in-law, Eugene Selby of Nicollet, David Zimmerman of Morris; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his great-grandson, Mason Bode; his sisters Marion Zimmermann, Harriet Hoffrogge, Carmen Kaesmeyer, Elaine Selby, Charlotte Zimmerman; his brothers, Lyle, Ralph, and Rodney Bode; sister-in-law, Darlene Bode; and brothers-in-law, William Osborne, Wallace Thompson, Norman Ohland, Victor Kaesmeyer, Charles Zimmermann, and George Hoffrogge.

Donald William Bode was born February 26, 1932, in Courtland Township to Gerhard and Agnes (Lange) Bode.  He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Courtland.  Don attended parochial school in Courtland Township at the Immanuel Lutheran School.  Don proudly served his country with the U.S. Army from July of 1954 until his honorable discharge in June of 1956, serving in Austria and Germany.  After his military service, Don worked for Heymann Construction in New Ulm and later at Kraft Foods in New Ulm.  Don was united in marriage to Margo Boesch on April 27, 1963, at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm.  This union blessed the couple with two sons whom together they raised in rural Courtland.  Don began his career as a dedicated farmer in 1959 until his retirement in 1997.  In retirement, he and Margo moved into Courtland in 1999.  Don served on the Courtland Rec Board, and was a devout member of Immanuel Lutheran Church where he held many offices in the church for over 30 years.  When he wasn't working on the farm, Don enjoyed fishing, bowling, golfing, playing softball in his younger days, and playing cards with the morning fellows.  What he enjoyed most in life was every moment he got to spend with his family, and especially loved seeing his grandchildren grow.  He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.  Blessed be his memory.