Donald Kubat, 84, Claremont
God needed a farmer to cultivate his fields and called our farmer to him.
Donald Frank Kubat passed away at chores time on April 6, 2026, at Benedictine Living Community in Owatonna, where he had been a resident for one week. He was 84.
Don was born Feb. 22, 1942, at Owatonna Hospital, the sixth child of Rudolph F. and Mary A. (Ripka) Kubat.
He attended school in Claremont until transferring to the Southern School of Agriculture (SSA) in Waseca. He graduated from SSA in 1960. He served in the Army Reserves until his honorable discharge in 1970.
On Feb. 8, 1969, he married Bernice Traun at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Durand, Wis. Together, they farmed and raised six children on the 99-year-old family farm.
Don was a lifelong member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, where he sold dinner tickets for the annual church dinner for many years. He also served on the St. Francis de Sales Cemetery Board.
A gentle man, he spent time in prayer each day, fingering a rosary given to him by his Confirmation sponsor, Luverne Spindler.
He enjoyed doing chores, spending time with the livestock that he called “his pets,” taking a load of manure to the field in the evening after chores, Sunday drives to look at the crops and talking about farming.
He was often joined in the tractor, combine or skid loader by grandchildren. He napped the best in his chair when the grandchildren played loudly nearby, saying that he knew they were healthy if they were loud. They all learned to be quiet when the market or weather report played on the radio or television.
He also had a soft spot for dogs, sharing Cheetos and sandwiches with his late dog, Spike.
In his later years, he and Bernice enjoyed trips to Branson.
Don is survived by Bernice, his farm partner and wife of 57 years, his six children, Janet (Clint) Kubat Willette, Jeff Kubat, Jody (Dana) Sowieja, Jill Kubat, Julie (Adam) Kubat Louks and Jeanne (Kris) Klinger; 15 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, four sisters, one brother-in-law and many other relatives. His third great-grandchild is due later this month.
He was preceded in death by one grandson, one sister, three brothers and four brothers-in-law.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 11, 2026, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Claremont with Father John Lasuba presiding.
Friends may call from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 10, at Brick-Meger Funeral Home in Owatonna and an hour before the service at the church on Saturday. His son-in-law, Kris Klinger, will lead the rosary at 7 p.m. Friday.
Interment will be at the St. Francis de Sales Cemetery in Claremont following the service.
For more information or to leave an online message of condolence, go to www.megercares.com.