Donald “Donny” William Haag Jr., age 67, of Garfield, passed away peacefully in his home on February 4, 2026, at 4:12 p.m., following a courageous and long-fought battle with kidney disease. He was just two months shy of celebrating his 68th birthday.

A tribute to honor Donny’s life will be held from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m., on Friday, March 13, 2026, at Somedays Bar and Grill, 205 Railroad St., Evansville, MN 56326. Flowers may be sent directly to the venue in memory of Donny.

A private family interment will be held at St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery in Brandon.

Born on April 2, 1958, in Paynesville, to Donald and Marilyn (Lommel) Haag, Don grew up in St. Cloud as the eldest of four siblings. After graduating from St. Cloud Tech in 1976, life took him to Brainerd, where he met his love, Debbie Lenarz. The two were wed in 1987 and eventually settled in Garfield to raise their two children, Corey and Rachel.

Donny spent his career behind the wheel as a sanitation truck driver in Alexandria. While the job wasn't for everyone, Donny thrived in it. He loved the solitude of the road, listening to Q102 on the radio, and the daily interactions with the people on his route. He had a keen eye for "hidden treasures" found along the way and always returned home with a colorful story about the quirks of driving through rural Minnesota.

To his family, Donny was much more than a driver; he was a legend in the everyday moments. In his healthier years, he was the "Best Dinosaur Hider" and "Bat Catcher" for his children, and the reigning "Bean Bag Champion" and resident jokester at family gatherings.

An impressive athlete in his younger years, Donny enjoyed golf and softball. He knew sports statistics like the back of his hand. Even as his mobility declined, his passion for sports never wavered. He transitioned from the field to the stands, rarely missing a professional game on TV or the chance to travel to Fargo, North Dakota, to cheer on his son, Corey, at the softball diamonds.

Donny was a man who never met a stranger. He had a rare gift for connecting with people and spent his final years sharing his sharp wit and reminiscing about the "good ole days" with anyone who pulled up a chair.

Donny's legacy of humor and resilience lives on through his beloved family. He is survived by his wife, Debbie Haag; parents, Donald and Marilyn Haag; and two children, Corey (Lauren) Haag and Rachel (Daniel) Marsolek. He was a proud grandfather to Hudson, Beckett, Millie, and Violet. He also leaves behind his siblings, Gary (Jan) Haag, Jimmy (Julie) Haag, and Doris Terwey (partner Mike Illies), along with many extended family members and friends.