Donald John Mahoney

Lt. Col. Donald John Mahoney, 44, of Great Falls, a maintenance squadron commander with the Montana Air National Guard, died of a gunshot wound Thursday at his home.
Funeral Liturgy for him and his wife, Shelly Mahoney, is noon Wednesday St. Ann's Cathedral, followed by a reception at the Heisey Youth Center. Burial will take place in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Don was born June 18, 1966, in Great Falls, Mont., to Delmar and Beverly (Duff) Mahoney. He graduated from C.M. Russell High School, in 1985 as an honor student and was a first team all state linebacker on the Montana state championship team in 1984 and was the defensive MVP of the Montana East/West Shrine team 1985. He attended Carroll College from 1985-1988, where he was starting defensive linebacker and down lineman for the Frontier Conference Championship Fighting Saints football team. He then went to the University of Montana from 1988 until graduating in 1991 from the Army ROTC program with a degree in political science and a minor in political administration
He married Shelly Clapshaw in 1993, at Blessed Sacrament Church in Black Eagle, and they spent 17 years together.
Don joined the U.S. Army in 1992, and served until 1996. He was commissioned in 1992, and selected as an elite member of the Army Rangers, training in Fort Benning, Ga., and was stationed in Hawaii and Fort Lewis, Wash. During his Army service, Don served multiple deployments including a Peacekeeping mission in Haiti and service in Saudi Arabia.
He was a member of the Great Falls Police Department from 1996-1998; a MANG Security Officer from 1998-2000; a MANG Plans and Programs officer from 2000-2004; MANG Security Forces commander from 2004-2006; MANG Logistics Readiness commander from 2006-2007; and a MANG Maintenance Squadron commander from 2007-2010. Lt. Col. Mahoney was a highly decorated military officer who was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. During his distinguished career with the Montana Air National Guard, he positively impacted many Airmen's lives and enhanced the entire organization through his leadership ability.
As a devoted father, Don was dedicated to the activities of his sons and participated as a volunteer and coach for the North Montana Wrestling Club and as a coach for Boys and Girls Club/Salvation Army youth flag football.
Don donated time to others and was very involved in the St. Ann's Cathedral community, including being a member of the Parish Council. Being very proud in his Irish heritage Don was a member and past president of the National Order of the Hibernians. He was also an active member of the BPOE No. 214 Elks Club.
Don was an avid hunter and fisherman, particularly enjoying this with his sons, father, brothers and nephew. He loved spending time with his family at their Holter Lake cabin. Don was passionate about Montana and God's gifts of the mountains and scenery of his home state. He was an admired chef of walleye and elk steak and a diehard Pittsburg Steelers fan. He was a very caring father, husband, brother, son and uncle; always putting family first. To his friends and Guard family he was a brother and a mentor. Don lived by strong moral values and faith and always put others problems above his own. He will be missed, but will live on in our hearts and memories forever.
Survivors, include sons Dugan Mahoney, Declan Mahoney and Donovan Mahoney; his parents, Beverly and Del Mahoney, sisters Sandee Mahoney and Tammi (James) Hebnes; brothers Douglas (Terri Newman) Mahoney and Duff (Schlene) Mahoney; and his grandmother, Emma Mahoney, all of Great Falls; Uncle Tim (Lisa Freeland) Duff of Spokane; Aunt Vonnie Cunningham of Kansas City, Kan.; his mother-in-law, Sandra Clapshaw; sister- and brother-in-law, Katie and Gavin McCluey of Great Falls; nieces and nephews Ellie and Jake McCluey, Katie and Jodi Mahoney; Ashley, Dylan, Madison and Carlyn Mahoney and Blair Hebnes; and great-nieces Briana and Natalie Buehner; along with many cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Frank and Effie Duff and Clarence Mahoney; father-in-law Robert Clapshaw, Aunt Francis Matchett, Uncle David Mahoney; and Duncan and Guinness.
An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
The family has designated St. Ann's Cathedral Restoration Fund, 715 3rd Ave. N., Great Falls, MT 5940, or Great Falls Scottish Rite Language Disorders, 1304 13th St. S., Great Falls, MT 59405 for memorial contributions.
Condolences may be posted online at www.schniderfuneralhome.com and/or www.gftribune.com/obituaries.