Donald MacDowell Borgman

Donald MacDowell Borgman, 94, passed away peacefully on November 28th, 2025, in Fishers, Indiana, with his wife and family surrounding him in love. He leaves behind his devoted wife of 61 years, Barbara Hughes Borgman, and his children Stephen, Andrea (Davis), and Darlene (Hall). Don now rejoins his first child, David, who died at age 5 and whom he carried in his heart thought his life.

Don grew up on Bridgeport, Connecticut, as one of eight children in a lively, close-knit family. After high school, he pursued ministry and linguistics, graduation for the Moody Bible Institute, Wheaton College and Wheaton College Graduate School, and completion four summers of training at the Summer Institute of Linguistics.

After serving for five years with Crossworld Mission in the jungles of northern Brazil, Don married Barbara, the love of his life. Together, they embraced a life of remarkable dedication-moving into a primitive, extremely remote region to live among the Sanumas, a sub-group of the indigenous Yanomami people. They spent years sharing daily life with the community, building trust and friendships, and ultimately bringing the Gospel of Christ to the Sanuma people.

During those years, Don wrote a pedagogical and scientific grammar of the Sanuma language, compiled of Sanuma dictionary, and translated the New Testament and key portions of the Old Testament. This painstaking work required patience, endurance, and deep respect for the people he served-qualities woven through Don’s life and character.

He anchored his live in one of his favorite verses: “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” (Philippians 1:21, NLT). Don lived those words quietly, faithfully, and consistently, leaving a legacy of humility, courage and devotion.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to support ongoing ministry among the Sanumas: Crossworld, 10000 N. Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 64155 – Account #057412.