Donald Dean Kisky passed away at 80 years old in Princeton, Missouri on October 16, 2022 after a long courageous fight with prostate cancer. Desperately missing him is adoring wife Judy to whom he was married for 62 years. His three children Tammy (Emerito), Troy (Angela), and Tracy (Kandi) are mourning the loss of their incredible father who was a driving force in their lives. His grandchildren who he adored with his whole heart Kaleb (Tara), Janelle (Scott), Jacqueline, Kaylee and Kourosh are grieving the loss of a pillar of wisdom, comfort, and joy in their lives. His sister Darlene, his many nieces and nephews, and his great-great grandchildren all acutely feel his loss. He was loved by so many and never new a stranger in life.
Don was born on July 12, 1942 to Donald Jenkins and Thelma Arlene (Banta) Kisky in East Moline, Illinois. He grew up in Smithville, Missouri and graduated from Smithville High School. It was in Smithville where he met the love of his life Judy at school. Together a football captain and homecoming queen graduated high school and later married on November 19, 1960 establishing the beginnings of a beautiful life and family together.
Following their marriage, the couple lived in Smithville where Don owned and operated K&W Precast Concrete. After moving on from K&W, Don began his lifelong journey of farming. Don loved to be outside working, it was one of the joys of his life. He began buying and fixing up farms. He was a steward of the land, always leaving places better than he found them. The process of buying and selling farms took his family to different places including Bucklin, Missouri, Garden Grove, Iowa, Mississippi, and Oregon before he finally found the farm where he would spend the rest of his life in Princeton, Missouri.
A country man to his bones, Don loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing. He was an avid coon and deer hunter in his youth who loved hunting with his son Tracy. Don had an unparalleled drive to work. Never satisfied, and never one to be idle there was always something to be done. He never took a vacation and never wanted to. Don’s idea of vacation was his family visiting and taking one of his grandkids fishing or driving them around the farm. Don was the engine to the machine that was his farm and his family. A quiet man but carried such a presence. When he spoke everyone would stop to listen.
Don’s life will forever be carried with his family. The legacy that he has passed on is one of diligent hard work, fierce love, and an unwavering ability to see the best in people. He epitomized what it meant to be a good person and he lived an exceptionally full life.
Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 22nd at Hixson-Klein Funeral Home in Gower with visitation one hour prior to the service.
Burial: Ridgely Cemetery, Ridgely, MO.
Donations may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
7 comments
dennis lincoln
I so sorry for your loss kandy Don was a great man and great deer hunter I miss watching him
Shirley Pope Maxwell
So sorry to hear about your loss, our prayers are with you. Will always remember his nickname for me, SAP (Shirley Ann Pope)
Jeanne Schroeder Epperson no
So sorry to hear of Don’s passing. He was a neighbor and friend in the 50’s and 60’s. He will be missed. God bless all.
Doug Kolich
so sorry for this loss ….
Donna Hudlemeyer
Judy I am so sorry for your loss. He will be missed by everyone. We all have such great memories from the school days and many years later. I won’t be able too make it to the service but will be thinking of you and your family. Prayers to you and all family and friends ❣️
Sherry Ferguson Wiese
So sorry for your loss. Thinking of you all.
Bill and Carolyn Forsyth
Sorry for your loss