James “Don” Piette, 82, of Moose Lake, died Tuesday, June 9, 2009 in Mercy Health Care Center, Moose Lake. He was born August 8, 1926 in Brule, WI to LeRoy and Elsie (Sommer) Piette. Don lived in Brule, Grantsburg and Aitkin before moving to Moose Lake. Don was a graduate of Moose Lake High School. He worked on the Great Lakes Ships. Don was an Army Veteran of WWII. Don worked for AT & T and was a Line Foreman for REA for 39 years, retiring in 1988. Don also worked part time at both the Lake Theatre and the Moose Lake Drive Inn. Don was former Fire Chief for the Moose Lake Fire Department. He also drove Ambulance. He was a member of Holy Angels Catholic Church as well as the Moose Lake American Legion Post #379. Don enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting, gardening and especially spending time at the lake with his family.

Don is preceded in death by his parents; 2 children, Connie Elizabeth and Theresa Ann; 2 brothers, Willis Piette and David Piette; 1 sister-in-law, Ann Piette.

Don is survived by his loving wife, Mary of Moose Lake; 7 children, Joseph (Diane) Piette of Esko, James E. (Jill) Piette of Moose Lake, Paul (Shirlee) Piette of Duluth, John Piette of Oklahoma City, OK, Michael (Kelly) Piette of Duluth, Michelle (Tim) Michaelson of Cloquet and Martha (Brent) Edgmond of Laurel, MT; 12 grandchildren, David, Abby, Gena, Cynthia, Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Sean, Nikolai, Alyssa, Ian and Charles James; 1 great grandson, Chase; 2 brothers, Howard (Betty) Piette of Vancouver, WA and Richard Piette of Black River Falls, WI; 1 sister, Margaret “Peggy” (Dr. Earl) Grass of Sacramento, CA; 2 sisters-in-law, Lois Piette of Oklahoma City, OK and Vera Piette of Menomonee Falls, WI.

A gathering of family and friends will be Friday, June 12 from 2 PM until the 4 PM Mass of Christian Burial in Holy Angels Catholic Church, Moose Lake. Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers. Don’s family would like to thank the staff at Mercy Health Care Center for their wonderful care. Inurnment will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery, Moose Lake. To sign the guestbook online, go to:  www.hhkfuneralhome.com Arrangements are with Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake.