Donald Eugene Jarvis Sr. was born on February 28, 1940 in Pocahontas, Virginia United States to Hazel Virginia Jarvis and Joe Lee Jarvis, and had siblings Joe J. Jarvis, William E. Jarvis, Virginia Lee Jarvis, Marie Jarvis, Gordon K. Jarvis, Lawrence K. Jarvis, Janet L. Oaks, David Jarvis, and Jerry Jarvis. He married Bonnie Jean Unger on June 24, 1960 in Boissevain, Tazewell County and they later divorced. He would also marry Karolynn Jean Zumbrunnen on February 28, 1970 in Washington County, Minnesota and they later divorced on November 4, 1980. They had children Tammy Rae Kreitz and Misty Dawn Scott. He and Susan Ann Jarvis married on February 14, 2002 in Chisago County, and they were married until Susan's death on February 24, 2015. Donald Jarvis died at age 77 years old on January 24, 2018 in North Branch.