Donald Wilfred FAGERSTROM

1924 - 2014  (89 years)

• Name	Donald Wilfred FAGERSTROM  [2]
  	Lt. Col. Donald W. Fagerstorm 1924 - 2014 Chicopee Lieutenant Colonel Donald W. Fagerstrom of Chicopee, Massachusetts passed away on January 14, 2014 following his short battle with kidney and bone cancer. He had been a patient at Willimansett Center West since December 4th 2013. Donald was born on October 11, 1924 in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin to the late Waldemar and Hilda Fagerstrom of Sister Bay, WI. He graduated from Gilbraltar High School in 1942. A popular student, Don played football, basketball, and baseball for the Vikings. Don also played the coronet with the school's band and a local five piece boys' band and was a member of the Glee Club. Following high school, Don drove for the Bay View bus company and met Mary LeClair. The couple married on October 23rd, 1945.Donald entered the Air Force in 1945 and served until 1968. While in the Air Force, Don was stationed in Guam, California, Texas ,Mississippi, Maine, and Massachusetts. His many positions in the military included air plane crew member and bombardier on B-52s and intelligence gathering. He was active in the Vietnam and Korean Wars. He enjoyed serving his country to the best of his ability. Don was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Erick, Rudy, Glen and Vinny; sisters Ruth and Anna. He is survived by his loving wife Mary (LeClair) of 66 years (10/48);daughters Lynn, wife of Larry Bennis of Chicopee, MA and Nancy, wife of John O'Leary of Reading, PA. Five grandchildren: Aaron Nugent, Ben and Molly Kwiatkowski, Chicopee, MA and Joseph and Jacquelyn O'Leary, Reading, PA. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Donald worked as a residential and commercial insurance inspector from 1970 - 1985 after retiring the Air Force. He enjoyed taking on home remodeling projects, tending to his immaculate lawn, flowers and vegetable gardens, chopping wood for the winter fireplace, Friday night dinners in town and at the NCO club a Westover air Force Base. His attention to detail was unsurpassed. Don was an avid golfer who played the game well and passed on that love to his grandsons Ben and Joe. The Funeral Service will be held at the Corridan Funeral Home, 333 Springfield St., Chicopee on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 at 1 p.m. with a period of Visitation beginning at 12 Noon. The burial with Military Honors will follow at the Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. The family would like to express their many thanks to Donald's outstanding caregivers at Willimansett West. In lieu of flowers it is requested that contributions in Don's memory be made to the Disabled American Veterans Org.,VA Regional Office, Rm. 1575B, JFK Federal Bldg. Government Center, Boston, MA, 02203 or 0n-line at www.dav.org/Honor-the-Pledge. Visit www.corridanfuneral.com. Published in The Republican from Jan. 17 to Jan. 19, 2014 [1]
  Birth	11 Oct 1924	Egg Harbor, Wisconsin   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Death	14 Jan 2014	Chicopee, Massachusetts   [3]
  Burial	Massachusetts Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, Agawam, Massachusetts   [1]
  Person ID	I21602	Main Tree
  Last Modified	20 Nov 2014

  
  

  Father	Johan Erik Valdemar FAGERSTROM,   b. 02 Oct 1887, Sweden d. 31 Jan 1973, Sister Bay, Door County, Wisconsin (Age 85 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Mother	Hilda J,   b. Abt 1889, Sweden
  Relationship	Birth
  Family ID	F01784	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary Virginia LECLAIRE,   b. 3 Sep 1927, Jacksonport, Wisconsin d. 7 Feb 2014, Chicopee, Massachusetts (Age 86 years)
  Marriage	23 Oct 1945  [1]
  Children	1. Lynn FAGERSTROM + 2. Nancy FAGERSTROM
  Family ID	F01794	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	17 Jan 2014

  
  

• Photos

  Lt. Col. Donald W. Fagerstrom Son of Waldemar and Hilda Fagerstrom and husband to Mary LeClair.

  
  

• Sources

  [S5735] Obituary Notice for Donald W. Fagerstrom. [S02926] Personal Information from Patricia (Berriman) Fagerstrom. [S5734] E-Mail from Nancy Fagerstrom O'Leary dtd 01/16/2014.