Bill Donald

1950 - 2025

Bill Donald

Bill Donald - A Life

Well Lived

A spiritual man and an optimist, Bill believed "The glass isn't empty or full...I can refill it!". A master jokester, he loved telling a good story and making people laugh. He was a natural leader and enjoyed mentoring young people, becoming a member of the boards of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program, Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions and Boys and Girls Club.

He loved the outdoors: hunting, fishing, camping, gardening, grilling, golfing and canoeing. And he loved music: singing in choirs, barbershop quartets, in every car he ever drove, and he made his own "mixtapes", before and way after it was cool. He made the best of every situation, working to learn and gain knowledge of whatever was put in front of him, to improve any situation. Bill loved to travel the world, visiting the Far East, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, South and Central America, etc. He made friends wherever he went.

Bill was born in Des Moines, Iowa on 18 May 1950 to his parents Jeanne and Mike. He died on 28 March 2025, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, AZ while awaiting new lungs, forever an optimist.

He is survived by his children Kim (Billy) and Lisa (Scott), grandchildren Pearl and Ysabel, his brothers Tom (Deb) and Jerry, ex-wife Annette and partner June.

Bill called Oelwein, Iowa "home" and graduated from Oelwein Community High School in 1968 and the University of Northern Iowa in 1972.

Bill had many varied job experiences: maintaining railroad tracks, teaching school, driving a school bus, owning a liquor store, working as a canoeing guide and a camp director, a realtor and insurance agent. Though he was never employed as such, he spent his life taking photographs, and as an adult studied and became a Reiki Master. He was also a frequent big game hunter at Farr Cattle Ranch: "Ten elk in ten years!" Bill retired from Dean Witter/ Morgan Stanley after a 30+ career as a wealth manager/VP (1984-2016).

Bill's Dad taught him to fly airplanes, and he was an accomplished pilot and avid aviator all of his adult life. He moved to New Mexico in 1980 as a Cessna aircraft sales executive, was a member of the AOPA, EAA Chapter 179 and the Port Townsend, WA Aero Museum. He had licenses for private, instrument, commercial, multi-engine and seaplane piloting. He LOVED to fly and said getting up in the air was the best way to "clear the cobwebs". The last airplane he flew (and owned) was a Piper Comanche, tail number 7754P.

Fly free, Bill, Billy, Dad, Big Scot, GB, Uncle, Brother, Lover, Friend. We love you forever.

There will be a Celebration of Bill's Life at the Albuquerque Country Club on Sunday, May 18th, 2025 at 4pm, on what would be his 75th birthday.