Donald Leonard Walch
Date of birth - August 4, 1944
Date of death - March 6, 2026
Donald Walch: a legacy of quiet charm, humor, caring, and an appreciation of the outdoors. Donald Leonard Walch of Molalla, OR, passed away on March 6th at age 81.
He was born on August 4, 1944, near Molalla, OR, the eldest of three children in the Walch Family of farmers. He attended grade school at Eby School, and high school at Molalla High School.
In 1964 he married Madeline Kummer, and they remained inseparable until her death in 2021 Don and Madeline lived for over five decades in the house they built in 1965. Don worked as an auto mechanic, and farmed as a hobby.
He and Madeline are survived by his brother Rollie Walch, sister Joanne Free, their children Michelle and Christopher, granddaughter Bahiyyih, and three nieces: Misty Hesse and her daughters Lydia and Autumn.
A viewing will be held Tuesday evening, March 17th at the Canby Funeral Home from 4:00 to 6:00.
His funeral will be held at Zion Cemetery in Canby on March 18th at 11:00 AM.
A Celebration of Life will be held on May 16th, 2026 from 1:00- 4:00pm at Macksburg Church (10210 S Macksburg Rd, Canby, OR 97013).
August 5, 1944 to March 6, 2026 – 
Donald Leonard Walch was born at home on August 5, 1944, near Molalla, OR, to Herman and Florence (nee Marsh) Walch.
He graduated from Molalla High School in 1962. He was a member of Future Farmers of America, served in the National Guard, and attended vocational school to become a mechanic. He and his wife, Madeline Walch (nee Kummer), married in 1965. They were together until she died in 2021. They lived over five decades in the house they built themselves, raising two children, Christopher and Michelle.
He lived a full life of hunting, camping, hiking, fishing, gardening, fixing just about anything, and bird watching. Don’s quiet charm, humor, caring, and occasional brusque attitude will be missed but not forgotten.
Don is survived by his younger brother Rollie Walch, younger sister JoAnn Free, and two children, Michelle E. Walch and Christopher A. Walch, and granddaughter Bahiyyih.
