Donald George Kelsheimer

                                                                                        Dec. 6, 1941- June 9, 2024

Donald George Kelsheimer, 82, passed away on June 9, 2024 in his home in Pleasant Grove Utah. He passed peacefully in bed surrounded by his loved ones. Don (as he liked to be called) loved to share the fact that he had two birthdays. His official birthday on December 6, 1941 and his real birthday on December 7, 1941. He was born the day Pearl Harbor was bombed and because of all the distress and commotion this caused, his birthdate was recorded incorrectly. He was born in Soda Springs, Idaho to Joseph E. Kelsheimer and J. Louise Albiston.

Don grew up a shy and quiet, but active child. He graduated High School and served a mission in the Southern states for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He started his education at BYU in Provo Utah in 1961 until he joined the military. He joined the U.S. Naval reserve in Jan. 1964 then transferred to the U.S. Army in Nov. 1964. He later served in the Army National Guard and then completed his military service in the Air Force National Guard.

Don met his sweetheart Anne Barrow and they were married on July 27, 1965 in the Idaho Falls temple. Ten days later he left to serve in Korea for 13 months. He and Anne wrote to each other every day. They lived in various places over the years and welcomed 5 beautiful children into their family. Robert, Sara, Kimberli, Krista, and Sonya. Don loved the outdoors and made sure to take his family on many camping trips. He loved music and shared his gift of singing and playing the guitar with his children often. He also loved to read, especially Science Fiction, and enjoyed reading these books to his kids.

Don valued education and received several degrees in Elementary Education, Accounting, Library & Information science, and was certified in Special Education.

Don was someone who lived to serve. After he lost Anne on April 4, 1991, he spent all of his time serving the people around him. He spent the last 15 years of his life serving in the LDS temple, 5 days a week for 4-6 hours. He did work for well over 60,000 people on the other side of the veil. His final act of service was to donate his body to the University of Utah body donor program. He was the "professor" of a first responder course.

Don is survived by his sister Marilyn Kent; his children, Robert & Rachel, Dan, Kimberli, Krista, and Sonya & Matt; his grandchildren, Joshua, Tara, Elle, Forest, Madison, Eliott, Bea, Kaden, Kylie, Annie, Elizabeth, Emma, Jacob, and Spencer; and his great-grandchildren, Hazel, Ky, Luca, Aria, Caleb, Nora, and 2 more yet to be born. He is preceded in death by his wife Anne and his daughter Sara.

A graveside service will be held on August 5, 2024 at 12:30pm at the Canyon Hill cemetery in Caldwell, Idaho. A celebration of life will take place on August 8, 2024 at 6pm in St. Helen, Oregon. Both services will be live streamed on the Donald Kelsheimer memorial Facebook group.

Memorials may be made to the University of Utah body donor program or flowers may be sent

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