- Date Of Birth: January 6, 1934
- Date Of Death: December 13, 2013
- State: Colorado
Donald David Raitz was admitted to Porter Hospice with metastatic lymphoma on Sunday December 8, 2013. Don was 79 and just a few weeks away from celebrating his 80th birthday when he passed away Friday December 13, 2013 at 01:03. Don was born on January 6, 1934 in Denver, Colorado. His parents, Anton Raitz and Mary Roemer and his five siblings, Dolly, Tony, Bob, Tootsie, & Cione resided in a neighborhood which Don commonly referred to as Globeville. Dolly Mearsha, Tony Raitz, Tootsie Gordon and Cione Raitz currently live in the Denver and Colorado Springs area while their brother Bob Raitz, who lived in Georgia, passed away two years ago. As a child, Don attended Holy Rosary Catholic School and proudly reminisced of playing the lead in the 8th grade operetta production of Tulip Time. At the age of 16 he joined the Navy during the Korean War. He still remembers going AWOL when he overslept and missed the ship to India and after his tour was done he attended school on the GI bill.
After returning to American soil, he met and married Rose Mauser and they had four daughters, Cheryl Nelson, Lorraine Petersen, Susan Adams-Scott and Diana Haney.
On August 31, 1974, Don married Esther McVay and gained four new daughters, Carolyn Weller, Sher Barbier, Laurie Riddle and Shelley Brecht and they lived in Englewood, Colorado. Don and Esther had desired to live in a rural area and after retirement, moved to Holyoke, Colorado.
Don enjoyed dancing, especially square dancing and also joined the Fraternal Order of Elks BPOE and remained active until his late years. Annually, horseshoes were played with his brothers at family reunions. He loved puzzles and his children enjoyed gifting him with MENSA type puzzles which were quickly solved. In addition, he will always be remembered for his quick, dry wit and sense of humor. Don loved his eight daughters, 21 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
A viewing for Don is scheduled at Drinkwine Mortuary on Thursday, December 19, 2013 from 3-8 pm.
We are grateful to the staff at Porter Hospice for the ease of transition for Don from the hospital to the residence and for the quality of care he received during his short stay.
