Donald Dale Luenenberg

Donald Dale Luenenberg passed away peacefully at home the evening of October 4th after a long illness. He was surrounded by his family. A native of Omaha, NE, Don was born to Harry and Frances Luenenberg on December 15, 1931. He was the eldest of three children.

Wherever he went Don made many friends and they all had the same things to say about him: He didn't have a mean bone in his body. He always did what was right. He was confident, but kind - the kind of guy you could depend on. He had a good sense of humor, but was serious about his flying.

Don began his employment at age 6, when he picked up trash from a near-by drive-in. During his youth, he worked as a newspaper carrier, a plumbing assistant, a highway construction worker, and a mover of household goods. He worked for anything he needed or wanted, including an education. He received his BS degree in business administration from the University of Omaha in 1954, receiving his Air Force commission through ROTC. Don graduated from pilot training in August 1955. He obtained his MS degree from George Washington University in 1966.

He was assigned to the 98th Air Refueling Squadron at Lincoln AFB, NE, as a KC-97 pilot. He became the youngest aircraft commander in the Strategic Air Command. On March 19, 1960, he married Diane Aron Clark of Crete, NE. In 1963, he was transferred to Beale AFB, CA where Don was a standardization pilot, formulating and writing rendezvous and air refueling procedures to be used in refueling the SR-71. In 1970, Don was transferred to the Combat Evaluation Group at Barksdale AFB, LA, where he was Deputy Chief of the Tanker Division. In 1973 he assumed command of the 46th Air Refueling Squadron at K.I. Sawyer AFB, MI.

In 1974, Don retired from the Air Force, having received The Air Medal for Meritorious Achievement While Participating in Aerial Flight, The Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters for Outstanding Achievement, and the Meritorious Service Medal for Outstanding Service.

The family moved back to Northern CA, settling in Yuba City, where Don became a partner in a beer & wine wholesale business for five years and then managed a real estate office for several more years. He was also a corporate pilot, and Congressman Gene Chappie's pilot. Congressman Chappie said that Don was "the best damn whistling pilot in the world".

During their retirement years, Don and Diane traveled to New Zealand, Hawaii, England, Spain, the Caribbean, and Greece, as well as to Utah, Florida, Colorado and Nebraska to visit friends and family. They also made many trips with trailer buddies to various spots in the US.

Survivors include Don's sisters, Joan McCracken of Denver and Lois Norris (Frank) of Omaha; Don's wife, Diane, of 51 years; son Jeffrey Luenenberg of Petaluma; daughters, Tracy Luenenberg Titus (Terry), and Wendy Luenenberg Harvey (Steve) of Yuba City; and grandchildren Jesse Titus (Mariah), Leah Titus, Nicholas and Jacob Harvey; and great grandchildren, Jakob and Erin Titus.

Don and Diane's family and friends have made their lives full of love and joy.

Don's memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at First Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either First Lutheran Church, 850 Cooper Avenue, Yuba City, CA 95991, or Fremont-Rideout Hospice, 939 Live Oak Blvd., Yuba City, CA 95991.

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