- Date Of Birth: January 30, 1934
- Date Of Death: October 25, 2018
- State: Idaho
Donald Lee Koon passed away peacefully on October 25,2018 in Boise, Idaho. Don,
as he liked to be called, was born January 30, 1934 in a log cabin along a dirt road 6
miles outside of Weston, Platte County, Missouri. His siblings included his sister Edna
and brothers Carl and John, both now deceased. Living in tobacco farming country,
Don was working in the tobacco fields along with his family by the time he was 8 years
old. He attended a one-room school house from the 1st through the 8th grade.
After high school in 1953 Don enlisted in the US Army serving in the Occupation Forces
in Germany in 1954. In 1957 he married his first wife, Ursula, and became the father of
his only son, Ron. Don and Ursula divorced in 1975.
Don served two deployments in Vietnam, first in 1965-1966 in the Infantry, and then
again in 1969-1970 in Military Intelligence – Imagery Interpretation. He flew Forward Air
Control for the US Army G2 Air that marked targets for air strikes. When Don’s plane
was shot down, he was able to avoid being captured. He was picked up by helicopter
pilots who had him promise them 2 cases of beer.
As a 20 year military veteran, Don retired from the Army in 1973 with the rank of Chief
Warrant Officer II. He began his 2nd career as a Travel Consultant in 1978, a career
which lasted until his final retirement in 1996.
Don met Karen over a cup of coffee in 1977 and the two were married in 1978. A year
after their marriage, Don adopted Karen’s two children, Laurie and John. John is now
sadly estranged from family. Don and Karen moved to Idaho in 1990 establishing their
forever home in Meridian. They celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in April of
this year.
Don was exceptionally meticulous about preparing for the future and unforeseen events
that might unduly affect his family. He loved his wife Karen, flying and football,
especially the Kansas City Chiefs. He is survived by his wife, daughter Laurie, son Ron
and sister Edna.
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