MARSHFIELD, WI (WSAU-WDLB) — The patriarch of Seehafer Broadcasting has died.
Don Seehafer passed away unexpectedly at his Manitowoc residence on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Funeral arrangements are pending. Don began his broadcasting career in 1952, as a sports announcer in his hometown of Marshfield at WDLB Radio.
When asked how his broadcasting career began Seehafer said, “I kind of lucked out there by getting hurt in football so I couldn’t play in my senior year.
“The sports announcer wasn’t doing very good, so the manager was interviewing and I was the one, so I wound up my senior year in high school broadcasting about 80 football and basketball games for the two high schools and some of the schools around Marshfield.”
Don purchased his first radio station in St. Peter, Minnesota in 1960. 10 years later Seehafer acquired WOMT in Manitowoc in 1970. He would later add WQTC-FM in Two Rivers, an AM/FM in Wausau, and also stations in the Janesville/Beloit market, Rochester, Minnesota & Winter Haven, Florida. He purchased WDLB-AM and WOSQ-FM in Marshfield and WFHR-AM and WLJY-FM in Wisconsin Rapids in 2006.
Don was inducted into both the Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Lakeshore All-Sports Hall of Fame. He was a past Chairman of the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Board of Directors.
Don transferred ownership of Seehafer Broadcasting to his four children in August of 2014. That’s when his son Mark became President.
