What up UD! I wasn’t sure where to even begin, but that seemed most fitting at this point. I’ve been trying for over a week to find the perfect words to celebrate all that you were, but I still can’t say a thing without breaking down. You and Aunt Ang have always treated Kim and I as your own without hesitation. Every birthday, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, 4th of July, family party, etc were that much better because of you guys. Loved coming over for cookouts by you and Aunt Ang and even years ago at Gramma and Papa’s house at the “376!” I had so many great times growing up where I got to hang out with my Uncle Donnie and Aunt Angie at “Donnieland!” To be honest, a lot of times I wanted to hang by you over going by a friend’s. I’d get to sleepover by you guys and watch scary movies, rated R movies (before I should have) and listen to music. Next morning we’d always go for an awesome breakfast or get a super nachos at The Village. You taught me a ton as I grew up, with some of the things being better not mentioned, haha. I was attached to you at the hip anytime I could be. Just look at any picture from a family gathering and I was always there next to you, never skipped a beat. We went fishing at Busse Woods, you took me to the trading card store and got me all the Jordan goodies, introduced me to eggs benedict (back when Denny’s even served it), you and Aunt Angie bought me my first CD player, you took me to buy my first 7 CDs and showed me why Tarantino was a master of movies. My love for music and movies was born from hanging with you and Aunt Angie!! You really, really tried to teach me some things on my first guitar, after you helped me buy it and yeah…. I’m still working on that, not your fault. You got me out of that toolbox situation when things were rough for me and I got too deep. I’ll never forget when you saw the guy and said “Hey Nickey, you didn’t say he looked like a damn boxer..” You took me to my first concert (Alanis Morissette, Garbage was the opener) even though it was on Aunt Ang’s birthday. Hell, you taught me how to interview and to be confident going in, “Remember, you are interviewing them too.” You always stuck up for the little guy and of course, your family. Never took shit from anyone. You were always the life of the party and weren’t afraid to talk to anyone about anything. That’s where I got that btw. You are the Original FUNcle. We listened to Dr Dre, Snoop, Guns n Roses, Pearl Jam, Black Sabbath, STP, Alanis, Nirvana, Aerosmith, Sheryl Crow, Candlebox, etc etc… I remember when I was like 10, you copied two Guns n Roses albums onto a cassette and snuck me the tape before Mom would let me listen to them. We watched Terminator 1 & 2, Faces of Death, Bad Lieutenant, ALL the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, saw a few movies with some freddies (haha), a ton more and of course any Tarantino movie available. We would watch concert DVDs and Saturday Night Live for the musical guest as it all played through the Bose. I remember back when you took me with to Milwaukee for a business meeting. It was during my grade school summer break and I sat in the car during the meeting and loaded up the CD changer with all the Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers I had. After the meeting we went back to the hotel, got some burgers and went swimming. I had a blast with that and thought it was so cool to go on the work trip with my Uncle Donnie. I remember always “priming” or “prepping” folks for when they would meet you. It was a thing that needed to happen so they weren’t too surprised. No one was ever prepared for the huge personality and endless jokes/comments and phrases that you would bring. Haha. Lisa can attest to this 100% btw! You knew all my friends and they all loved hanging with Uncle Don!! They’d come to the family parties and all. You could bet they would be there if you were gonna be there. I’m sure that they also didn’t hate the times you may or may not have snuck us a beer or two… We would spend hours on the phone and damn near had to schedule it, like an event. I recall needing to re-charge my phone a few times during the calls cause we killed the battery. We would talk about work, movies, tv shows, music etc etc etc. Even with all this, I haven’t even started to touch on the amount of fun, laughter and never ending memories that you have given me. You set the bar for what I want with my nieces and nephews. As time goes on, I hope I can be half as amazing to them as you were to me. A couple years ago you started joking about how much I could talk… You weren’t wrong by any means, but I responded every time with, “I learned from the best.” Then a year or so later at mine and Lisa’s going away party before moving to Florida, you started timing me. You just kept smiling and laughing as we continued to talk and I kept asking what was so damn funny.. You were keeping track, on one of the many fancy watches you loved to talk about, of how long I would go on about each thing as we sat at the table and talked about ALL the things. I mean, I can usually out talk most, but again, “I learned from the best.” A couple/few months ago, I tried to call you, but I couldn’t speak a word without breaking down. I ended up sending you probably the longest text message I’ve ever sent, which could’ve been a letter. It was the only way I could explain and tell you what you meant to me and how I could not say it to you without being a complete mess and unable to speak. This is shaping up just like that one… With as big of a life as you had, the lives you touched, the amazing stories, the jokes, comments, one of a kind sayings and the insanely huge imprint that you were on me, I can only sum it up into two letters… UD. Thanks for being as amazing as you were! Thanks for being the best UD (Uncle Don) that I could ever have asked for! Thanks for being the best GUD (Great Uncle Don) to Lincoln, he loved you so much! Thanks for sharing your birthday with Lisa these past 13 years! Not something that will ever change btw! You are a true legend, UD. I promise to keep the stories rolling so that the legend that you have always been, lives on! No one can ever truly prepare for loss and especially not one this big. I still can’t believe that you’re gone. I missed seeing you one last time by 48 hrs. I am relieved that you are no longer in pain/“hurtin’ like Jane Curtain,” but miss you soo much. It’s kind of funny and a little bit ironic (don’t you think), that you have been the only one to ever get me to stop talking and be unable to speak. You did it, you found the way. 🙂 I love you UD and I’m gonna miss you more than you will ever truly know. I wish I could’ve said more to you, wish we could have planned out and gone to another concert and would give anything to relight the candles one more time 🙂

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Don and I were big buds when we worked together at Kalmus & Assoc in Broadview. A day at work for Don always start with a morning cig, coffee and call to Boo Boo Head...and if someone bugged him while he was on the call he would always cover the mic and tell them "this is business." Don always hated it because he had to report to me even though he knew more about the circuit board business...Ha I don't have a lot to share of memories from there, mainly because we spent most of our time making fun and pulling pranks on our co-workers. When we didn't like somebody we would put a note on their desk (pre-email) that said "See me, it's important!" and then we would scribble a signature that couldn't be recognized on the bottom of the note. Then we would spy on that person until they read the note and shadow them as they walked around the plant asking who left it. Sometimes they would even show us the note and ask us if we know who's signature that was!!!!! One of the best New Years Eve parties I went to was at Don's 1985-1986. I had already moved to Nashville but I flew in for the party. What a blow out that was! A bunch of us woke up New Years Day morning in the living room with monster hang overs or whatever. I remember he had a big collection of CD's while everyone else was still listening to cassettes...he was ahead of his time! I've got you, Angie and your family in my prayers my friend...Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

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Dear angie, peggy and family- I am so sorry for your loss. I knew donie as a teen. Wishing you peace love healing and blessing alway.

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Wonderful uncle to my wife and a great uncle to my children you will be missed.

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Dear Angie, Peggy and family, On behalf of the Gercone family, we send our deepest sympathy. We are so sorry for your tremendous loss. We knew Donny as a young man and as a married man. We have so many wonderful memories of Don & Mary. They and my brother Nate and Vince Puccia were life long friends of our family. We shared many fun times and laughs. May Donny find peace as he is united with his loved ones.

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Dear Angie, Peggy and Families, We were saddened to hear of Donnie's passing. Donnie made sure he spoke to mom, Aunt Dorothy, and all of us when he visited at family gatherings. He had a warm smile that was comforting. You have our deepest sympathy. Kathleen O'Rilley Shaw, first cousin 1x removed VickiLynn Shaw, first cousin 2x removed Christopher Shaw, first cousin 2x removed

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My little brother it’s only been two days and I miss you so much. I want to hear you tell me every single thing you had for breakfast every day as you always did. It might’ve driven me nuts but I sure would like to hear it again. Please give my love to everyone that went before us and know that Angie will be always with us for anything she needs. Love you Donnie.

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My pool in Florida with his sister Peg

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