Donald Lee Devine

DONALD L DEVINE, December 3, 1930-November 11, 2018 Don Devine, age 87, of Lakewood, Washington and Chappell, Nebraska left his body at 5:30 a.m. on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2018. His wife of 63 years, 9 months was at his side. After surviving prostate cancer and colon cancer, his body succumbed to the ravages of metastasized lung cancer. Considering his dedication to duty and his devotion to serving his country for 31+ years, it seems entirely appropriate that Don left this earth on Veteran’s Day. Donald Lee Devine was born at St. Rose Hospital in Great Bend, Kansas on December 3, 1930. His parents were John Alexander Devine and Kathryn Nadine (Smith) Devine. He attended school in the small Kansas towns of Frazel, Pawnee Rock, Nekomah, and Rozel. He graduated from Rozel High School in May, 1949. He started his long military career in High School when he and four of his classmates joined the Kansas Army National Guard. For six months following High School graduation he attended the Field Artillery Radio Repairman’s course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After returning to Rozel, he was employedby the U.S. Postal Service as a clerk.He also worked part time as a telephone lineman, and occasionally served as a farm worker. Donald enlisted in the United States Air Force in May, 1951. He served overseas in Korea, England, Germany, Italy, Turkey and France. He also made numerous training and inspection tripsto every NATO country. His stateside assignments included Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; Shephard AFB, Texas; Lackland AFB, Texas; Ellington AFB, Texas; the Reserve Center, Houston, Texas; Moore AFB, Mission, Texas; Lowry AFB, Colorado; Dover AFB, Delaware; George AFB, California; Langley AFB, Virginia; and McChord AFB, Washington. Don’s Air Force career went from administration to personnel to nuclear weapons technician in 1959. His conscientiousness and dedication to excellence always earned him a stellar reputation in whatever small task or large job he was doing. At one point in his military career he supervisor told his wife that Don was the most knowledgeable nuclear weapons fusing specialist in the Air Force. This was made evident a few years later when the Air Defense Command Headquarters in Colorado sent an Air Force Lear jet to take Don from Langley Air Force Base to another Base where the weapons storage site had failed their inspection. The ADC gave him command authority and tasked him with the responsibility to take charge of that storage site, deal with the inspectors, and get the site re-certified. Don never talked about it, but his wife was so proud of him, she related the story many times. He achieved the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. By law, only one percent of active duty enlisted forces are allowed to serve in that rank. After 31+ years of serving his country, Don retired from the military at McChord AFB, Washington. He then attended the local technical college for two years, at which time he was selectedto be a laboratory assistant in the consumer electronics program. He held this positionfor six years. Don was then selected to teach in-school suspension classes at the middle school level. He worked there for another six years. After retiring from his second career, he stayed busy repairing and maintaining the Bruns family farm south of Chappell, Nebraska. He spent about half of his time at the farm and the other half in Lakewood, Washington. He enjoyed participating in Washington state politics and being involved in community and senior activities in Nebraska. He was always ready to help others who needed his assistance. Don spent a great deal of time and energy helping ailing relatives, namely: his sister-in-law in Oklahoma, his brother-in-law in Chappell, and his sister in Texas and Wyoming. Donald Devine was united in marriage to Joan Bruns on February 11, 1955 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in McAllen, Texas. Three sons were born to this union: Donald Lee Jr, Mark Edward, and Raymond Jay, all currently of Reno, Nevada. Donald was preceded in death by his parents, his older sister Claranell (Connie) and her husband Roy Day, and his younger brother, Byron Kay Devine. Other relatives preceding him in death are brothers and sisters in law: Carl and Alice Bruns, Glen and Dolores Bruns, Dennis and Irene Johnson, Dale and Marie Bruns, nieces NiesjeBrunsHeerman, Ann Bruns, and nephews, Gary Lee Bruns, and Michael A. Day. Don is survived by his wife, Joan of Lakewood, Washington and Chappell, Nebraska, his three sons: Donald Lee Jr, (Irma), Mark Edward (Mary) and Raymond Jay (Kim), 5 grandchildren: Christopher Ladd Reede (Michon), Jessica Marie Devine, Kayla Ann Devine, Kameron Thomas Devine, Connor Davis Devine, 2 great grandchildren: Hays and Clara Reede, sister-in-law, Delores (Miller) Devine of Larned, Kansas, and numerous nieces and nephews. Don was a member of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, the American Legion, a life member of the VFW, a 29 year member of AA, and was a declared Democrat. Arrangements by Edwards Memorial, Funerals Homes, Chapels and Crematories. 253-566-1008