Donald A. Van Kleeck, 88, passed peacefully June 2, 2014, at the Hospice House in Hayden, Idaho.

Donald was born on January 7, 1926, in Bottineau, N.D., the eldest son of Charles O. Van Kleeck and Hazel Carkuff Van Kleeck. As a young child he moved to the Spokane area, and later to the Coeur d’Alene area.

Don attended Coeur d’Alene High School, graduating in 1944, while also working at family owned Van’s Creamery. After high school, Don immediately entered the Army Air Corp as a radio operator on a B-29 in the Pacific Theater. Upon his return from service, he married Dorothy E. "Dot" Woolsey in Coeur d’Alene. They had three children together: Robert, Peggy, and Donald, Jr.

Don owned and operated a service station in Coeur d’Alene, before moving to the Wallace area to work in the engineering department for the Idaho State Highway. He then returned to Coeur d’Alene to pursue higher education, attending North Idaho Junior College and the University of Idaho. Don received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Business, and Applied Science, later accumulating an additional 240 post graduate credit hours in Education.

Don was a very accomplished man: He owned and operated his own surveying and engineering business while also teaching drafting and civil engineering at North Idaho College for 18 years. In 1961, Don was elected Kootenai County Fire Department Commissioner - a position in which he joyfully served for 32 years. After retiring from NIC, Don worked for the United States Forest Service for six years.

Don received his private flying license, along with his father and younger brother, with instruction from Gladys Buroker, when he was a sophomore in high school. He enjoyed traveling the world, hunting, deep sea fishing, boating on Lake Coeur d’Alene, and having coffee with his many friends. He was a member of the Eagles and Elks clubs.

Following Dorothy’s passing in 1984, Don married Florence Brooks Elfstrom in 1986.

Don was preceded in death by his mother, Hazel Carkuff Van Kleeck; father, Charles O. Van Kleeck, Jr.; first wife, Dorothy Woolsey Van Kleeck; second wife, Florence Brooks Van Kleeck; and son, Donald Van Kleeck, Jr.

Don loved his family, including his extended family at the Kootenai County Fire Department. He is survived by two children: Robert A. (Monica) Van Kleeck, of Kellogg, Idaho, and Peggy A. (Glenn) Yingling, of Lewiston, Idaho; two stepchildren: Ed Elfstrom, of Clarkston, Wash., and Jo Ellen (John) Nuckles, of Hayden, Idaho; brother, Leonard (Kathy) Van Kleeck, of Salem, Ore., sister, Donna Robertson, of Jefferson, Ore., grandchildren: Donald J. Van Kleeck, of Kellogg, Idaho, Raymond Yingling, of Lewiston, Idaho, Kelly (Chris) Bergem, of Pinehurst, Idaho, Wendy (Chris) Newcomb of Spokane, Wash., Melissa (Preston) Whitman, of Hayden, Idaho, Angelia (Adam) Green, of Grangeville, Idaho; and numerous great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and loved ones.

A celebration of Don’s life will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 7, at English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, with a reception to follow at the Kootenai Fire and Rescue Administration Building, 1590 E. Seltice Way, Post Falls. A private family graveside service will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations in Don’s name to either Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, Idaho 83815 or the International Association of Fire Fighters for Muscular Dystrophy, http://www.iaff.org/MDA. Please sign Donald's registry and view his online memorial at: www.englishfuneralchapel.com.