Donald L.

Germain

Donald L. Germain

On October 29, 2026 Donald L. Germain passed away at age 95. He was surrounded by family and loving care at Trillium Woods in Plymouth, MN.

Born October 29 1931, in Duluth, MN to Joe and Frieda Germain. His family were backwoodsmen, loggers and surveyors. Most of all they loved to fish for trout, Don his father Joe and his uncle Al went to great lengths to find treasured secret holes. The Skunk, the Mink and the Secret Lake were all spoken of in the hushed tones of the trout hunter.

Don knew early in life what path he would follow, becoming a United Methodist minister at age 19, the first church he served was the United Methodist Church in Finlayson, MN.

Don pursued his education first at the University of Minnesota Duluth and then receiving his masters in theology at Illif Seminary in Colorado.

Through his life long ministry Don touched countless numbers of lives across the globe. The family had a long running inside joke that no matter where they went, quite literally they would encounter some one who knew Don. It was a testament to how powerfully he affected the lives of others. One of the things he was most proud of was establishing a series of church camps across Minnesota, he was a big proponent of fellowship through camping.

His other great passion and love was canoe country. He worked at resorts on Seagull Lake during his college summers, building a connection to the end of the Gunflint Trail that that he passed to Carole and his children that persists to this day. The Germain family also operated Saganaga Canoe Outfitters on Saganaga Lake, helping thousands of others enjoy the wilderness experience.

He led an enriching retirement with his beloved wife Carole, traveling all over the world, while spending their summers on the Gunflint Trail.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Joe & Frieda Germain, his wife Carole and his sister, Janice. He is survived by his daughter, Candace (Terry), his son, Michael (Kathy) and 5 grandchildren, Amanda, Samuel, Kayla, Thomas and Benjamin and 3 great grandchildren, Yujin, Taejin and Bohan.

A service of Celebration and Memory Friday December, 4th at 1 p.m. at Wayzata Community Church (Chapel), 125 E. Wayzata Blvd. Visitation Thursday 4-6 p.m. at David Lee Funeral Home 1220 E. Wayzata Blvd. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department, 704 Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais, MN 55604 or donor’s choice.