Donald "Donnie" Kotzer

Donald D. “Donnie” Kotzer, age 83 of Holdingford, passed away unexpectedly from natural causes on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at his home in Holdingford, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Friday, April 24 at All Saints - St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Holdingford with Rev. Gregory Mastey officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Friday at All Saints – St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Holdingford. Parish prayers will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening at the church.

Donald Daniel Kotzer was born July 17, 1942 in Holding Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Paul and Sophie (Herschel) Kotzer. He was united in marriage to Patricia “Patty” Grebinoski on September 24, 1966 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Opole, Minnesota. Donnie farmed with his father after high school and eventually took over the family farm. While farming, Donnie started driving school bus for the Holdingford school district for over 40 years and was employed at Mills Fleet Farm. Donnie and Patty had the opportunity to host three foreign exchange students, two from Germany and one from France. Donnie eventually sold the family farm but kept approximately four acres for homestead.

He was a member of All Saints – St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Holdingford where he served on the parish council. Donnie loved his antique tractor collection and equipment, and his miniature toy tractor collection. He loved traveling to Germany, the Netherlands, Canadian Rockies, the West Coast, and took many trips to Branson along with an occasional trip to the casino with his “casino group”. Donnie mostly loved to be outside mowing his lawn and sitting in his lawn chair watching the cars and tractors go by. He enjoyed his daily drive to town to see who was out and about.

Survivors include his loving wife of 59 years, Patty Kotzer of Holdingford; and many nieces and nephews.

Donnie was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Alex Kotzer; sisters, Margaret Klein and Ruth Klein; and infant sister, Rosemary Kotzer.