Donald Ray Birkes

Don was born January 3, 1936 to Rena and Clyde Birkes in Arlington, SD. He was raised by his
mother Rena in Sioux City, IA where he had family and many friends. When Don was 15 he entered the Navy and served for four years. He enjoyed his travels around the world while in the Navy, especially his time spent in Germany on the Rhine River Patrol. I’m fairly certain many of you have heard those stories several times. Ha! Ha! But, he was very proud of his military service. After the Navy he joined the Air Force when he was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base. You would often see him wearing his favorite Retired Air Force ball cap, he was extremely proud to be a Veteran.

He met and married his wife of almost 65 years, Jeanette White in So. Sioux City, NE. They were blessed with two girls and made their first home in Leeds. After Don started his job with the Union Pacific Railroad, they would move many times throughout his 35 year career with them. Don was very proud of his career and the life he was able to provide to his family. The moves weren’t always easy, but he felt it was in the best interest of his family.

Don enjoyed spending time with his family, learning and exploring all the new places the railroad took them too. He was especially happy to become a Grandfather, to Kelsee and Stefan. But, his grandkids took a backseat to the Great Grandkids Landree and Calvin, whom he loved to
brag about constantly. They loved Dondo and especially loved to tease him. I’m sure the people in his Assisted Living Facility were tired of hearing how smart, cute and gifted Landree and Calvin were. He was very excited to learn that Stefan and his wife Kelsey were having twin
boys, he couldn’t wait to meet Beau and Grant. He was also sad that mom didn’t understand or would not remember the boys, he talked about that often, it really weighed on him. It was hard for him seeing mom deteriorate with Alzheimer’s.

Don loved to blast music in his garage or basement. Mostly, Neil Diamond, Cat Stevens and Abba. He passed his love of music on to his girls. He also really enjoyed his time he spent daily at the American Legion, he would go over for a Budweiser and shoot the breeze with his other Veteran friends.

Don was a Christian and very proud of his beliefs and his Synod Lutheran faith. Dad passed away in his apartment, sitting on his couch drinking a cold beer watching Fox News. If dad could have chosen how to move on that would have been it. Only regret was it was a Coors Lite, he was boycotting Budweiser. Ha! Ha! We miss him every day, but know he is gone to Heaven with mom, the rest of his family and friends that passed before him.