Donald Kibler Underdonk, II

Donald Kibler Underdonk II, affectionately known as Don, signed off for his final adventure at the ripe old age of 78 on October 13, 2024, in Sun City, AZ. Ever the master of timing—a trait honed from years as a pressman—Don took the final print just a day after his birthday. Born in Harrisburg, PA, on October 12, 1946, Don carved out a life that was as colorful and bold as his personality.

A graduate of William Penn High School, Don quickly transitioned from the hallways of academia to the jungles of Vietnam as a combat veteran in 1966. Following his service, where he presumably made friends with as many mosquitoes as possible, he returned stateside to terrify newspaper printers with his boundless energy at The Patriot News. Eventually, his career path led him to the Arizona Department of Corrections as a Sergeant Corrections Officer, where he fine-tuned his skills in wrangling both wayward printers and inmates.

Don's love for family and friends was as expansive as his legendary leaps in logic when it came to games he played on his phone. His quick wit and love for jokes made every gathering a stage for laughter—something he felt was an unofficial duty. Be it building panda bears from scratch or plotting his next family trip, Don was a maestro of creating joy and laughter.

He leaves behind a family as vibrant as his favorite Hawaiian shirts: his loving spouse Stephanie G. (Perkins) Underdonk, and his legacy continues with his children Donald K. Underdonk III and wife Lisa, Joseph Stanton Underdonk and wife Jill L. McElheny, and Wendi L. Barajas and husband Jaime. His grandchildren, Joseph Stanton Underdonk Jr., Cassandra Martin, Lindsey Underdonk, Jocelyn "Josie" Underdonk, and Stephanie "Stephie" Barajas, will no doubt carry forward his impish grin and knack for creating beautiful chaos.  He also leaves behind a large extended family of brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces, and a multitude of friends.

He is predeceased by his parents, Donald K. Underdonk and Norma L. Underdonk, though reports of heavenly mischief-making have increased since his arrival.

Please join us to celebrate Don’s life and laughter at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona on November 8, 2024, at 1:00 PM. True to his generous spirit, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to any Veterans Organization or any Panda Bear Organization, reflecting both his service to country and pandamonium, in equal measure.

In the words of Don, he'd tell you not to linger on the farewell, but rather on the laughs shared along the way.