Don Blakeslee

1928 - 2022

Don Blakeslee 1928- 2022 Don Blakeslee was born on May 3, 1928, in Atchison, KS, to George and Clarra Blakeslee. He passed away on February 21, 2022, in Hutchinson, KS.

Don married Marjorie Garten of Newton, KS, on August 19, 1950, on the campus of their Alma Mater KU. He has two children, Julia Drake and husband Steve, of Gaithersburg, MD, and Mark Blakeslee and wife Denise, of Nickerson, KS. Don has six grandchildren, Elizabeth, Emmalee, Pete, Corrine, Whitney, and Cassie Elizabeth, and ten great-grandchildren.

He received a B.S. from KU in 1949 and EdD 1969 from the University of Wyoming. Don was inducted into the US Army and served as a Battery Commander, as a first lieutenant in Korea where he earned a Bronze Star. He referred to his military experiences frequently.

Marjorie, his wife and he, moved to Wyoming in 1953. They returned to Kansas in 2007. Dr. B worked as a classroom teacher, guidance counselor, interim superintendent, Director of Curriculum, and School Board member in Rawlins, WY, Carbon County School District number one over a fifty plus year career. A distinguished career in education locally and nationally with WEA/NEA was had by him. Serving as local president and state president of WEA. Director of WEA from 1967-1976 representing Wyoming at the NEA was an additional honor of his. He was also a member of the Wyoming State Board of Education from 1975-1981. Dr. B was also a trainer and member of AARP 1989-1997. Don was involved with his local church in Wyoming as an ordained elder. As chairman of the NEA International Relations Committee, he traveled to London, Nairobi, Kenya, Berlin, Morges, Switzerland, and Paris. Dr. B traveled to provide evaluations for schools as a part of the North Central Association 1984-1989. Dr. B was proudly the Rawlins High School Student Council Sponsor from 1957-1989. He received awards from Wyoming Personnel and Guidance Association for Outstanding Contribution 1968, Gold Key for Outstanding Service to Education, WEA 1971, Honorary Life Membership to PTA, Meritorious Service Award North Central Association 1986, Outstanding Contribution to Education Wyoming School Boards Association 1989, North Central Association Excellence in Education 1988, Centennial Honored Graduate Atchison County Community High School (one of 100 top graduates from previous 100 years), and School Bell award for Outstanding Service to Education Wyoming School Boards Association 2000.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Meg, granddaughter, Cassie Elizabeth, and great-grandson, Christopher Michael.

Celebration of Life service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Elliott Mortuary. Military honors will be conducted by the Fort Riley Honor Guard. Family will greet friends following the service at Elliott Mortuary. Friends may sign the book from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, February 27, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, February 28, and Tuesday, March 1, at Elliott Mortuary. To view the memorial service online, the link will be available at the end of Don's obituary on the Elliott Mortuary website on the day of the service beginning at 1:45 p.m.



In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Kansas Honor Flight, or the donor's choice, in care of Elliott Mortuary and Crematory, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.