Service Details
Services of committal, with military honors, will be held on Don’s 87th birthday, Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 11:00 am in Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (21731 Spring Street in Union Grove, WI). All family & friends are invited & encouraged to come to the service to celebrate Don.
Yuma, AZ (formerly of Racine) – Donald Chester Kangas, age 86, passed away peacefully, under the watchful care of hospice, on Monday, November 27, 2023.
Donald was born in Milwaukee, WI on January 16, 1937 to the late Spyros and Lydia (nee: Borkowski) Kangas. He graduated from St. Catherine’s High School in 1955 and was inducted into the St. Catherine’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. He faithfully served our country with the United States Army from 1956-1959. Don was united in marriage with Aileen (nee: Cooper) on May 19, 1979.
Don was employed in building maintenance with Tim Ahles Building Maintenance Services, retiring in 2015. Shortly after, he moved from Racine to retire in sunny Yuma, AZ. Don enjoyed woodworking and fixing anything, for anyone, whether it was broken or not.
Surviving are his loving wife, Aileen; children, Pam, Terri, Kim, Kelli, Tom, Scott, Ken, Marnie, Mark, Sue and Missy; 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Loreni Cooper, Celia Klempel, Joan Reesman and Sandy Czosnek; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends – too numerous to mention all by name.
In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Sherri; grandson, Michael; sister-in-law, Audrey (Jim) Tice; brother-in-law, Allan Cooper; and by Aileen’s parents, Ralph and Dora (nee: Chew) Cooper.
Services of committal, with military honors, will be held on Don’s 87th birthday, Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 11:00 am in Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (21731 Spring Street in Union Grove, WI). All family & friends are invited & encouraged to come to the service to celebrate Don.
Emily Savas Palmer Digaudio says
Don was a ray of Sunshine when I saw him. I was his “Favorite Greek Lady”. When My daughter, Sue, married into the Rongsvoog Family. I and my son John were welcomed into the fold. Don and Eileen became friends. I visited them in Yuma for a long weekend.
Apparently , in the 50’s we both went to the Greek Church on Grand Av in Racine. We were a couple of grades apart and didn’t know him but I knew he took his Father, who was over 100 years old, to Church on Sunday’s.
Fast forward soooo many years. He was a ‘Good Greek Boy’.
Gary Sondergaard says
So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Such great childhood memories of my next-door neighbors!
Barry Roselle says
So sad to hear about Don. Such a nice talented person who would always lend a helping hand for anyone in need. We worked together for several years in the Park Dept. I learned a lot from Don and he will be missed by many…RIP my Friend …God’s blessings to Aileen & Family.