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15630 LTC Donald A. Lundholm USA (Retired)
June 07, 1925 - January 09, 2000

usma1946-H2

 

 MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly July 2001

DONALD ALFRED LUNDHOLM * '46
No. 15630 * 7 Jun 1925 - 9 Jan 2001
Died at Bradenton, FL * FL National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL

DONALD ALFRED LUNDHOLM was born in Portland, ME but grew up in Durham, NH where his father was a professor and Director of Athletics at the University of New Hampshire. His brother, Jere wrote: "He loved sports. He was a batboy for the UNH baseball team. In 1939, our father took him into the NY Yankees locker room after a game in NYC to meet the players and forever after he was an avid Yankees fan. He was a star pitcher on the Dover, NH high school baseball team and end on the football team. He had many hobbies including music, Ham Radio, skiing and sailing."

After graduating from Dover NH High School, Don received his appointment to West Point and joined the Class of 1946 on the banks of the Hudson on 1 July 1943.

Roommate Bill Jenkins wrote of Don's days as a cadet: "Don and I began rooming together in our Plebe year. Don was a true Yankee from NH and loved all the winter sports. He was a skier for three years and even forced this southern boy onto ice skates and to WP hockey games. During Yearling year we were joined by Lew Allen and we all wanted to become pilots. There was a lottery to determine which primary flying school would be our assignment. Don and I agreed we would stick together and ended up at Brady, TX." Don graduated a second lieutenant with his pilot's wings in the Army Air Corps.

After graduation, Don joined his multi - engine classmates for transition training at Enid AFB, OK. His first assignemnt was with the 97th Bomb Group in Salinas, KS flying B-29s. From KS, Don was assigned to the Armed Forces Special Weapons Field Command in Albuquerque, NM. From NM, Don went to the Squadron Officer's School in Panama City FL. In 1950, he married Bette Gooding in Tampa, FL. In 1953, Don went to Randolph AFB, TX to HQ. AF Combat Training Command. He then joined Air Task Force 13 and in 1960 went to the U of NH to serve on the ROTC staff there. His next assignment was Commander, 61st Troop Carrier Sqdn at Stewart AFB, TN from 1963 - 1967. Don retired from the Air Force in 1967.

Following his retirement, Don joined the Public Service Company of New Hampshire and served with that organization for 22 years, reaching the position of Chief Executive Officer before he again retired.

After retiring for the second time, Don moved to Bradenton, FL. There he enjoyed his hobbies, especially jazz music, sailing, golf and tennis. In 1994, shortly after moving to FL, Don's wife, Bette died. One of the couples, Don and Bette socialized with in their retirement community was the Kaczorowskis. Mary Ann Kaczorowski lost her husband six weeks before Bette's death. She and Don became close friends and were married in 1996. In 1999, Don was diagnosed with colon cancer. He died 9 January 2001.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann; son, Robert; stepdaughters, Donna and Dianne; stepsons, Ray and Ken and brother, Jere.

The characteristics and qualities that made Don Lundholm someone very special to those who knew and loved him are best elaborated by their remembrances of him.
Friend, Bill Muntz, remembered: "Don had a great love of music and shared his collection of favorites with us. We played golf together; he made it possible for me to play. Due to my failing vision, he drove me to the course and watched the ball for me. He loved boating on Sarasota Bay and was also a good tennis player. Don will be missed by all who knew him and his life touched most of us here where we live."
Brother, Jere, recalled: "My brother was a great guy. We had great times together skiing and sailing. He loved sailing, especially the inland bays of Portsmouth, NH. He was a quiet likeable guy and a rock you could always count on. He was especially at peace with the wind in his sails and his hand on the helm."
Son, Bob, recalled his father: "My dad was a success in many areas. I am proud of his service to his country and will always be proud of his being a graduate of West Point. He was an excellent father and a wonderful role model. He and I would spend afternoons sailing on his boat. I developed a love for the water that exists to this day, one of my most precious gifts from my dad. In his final days, he faced death with grace and dignity. I only hope I can do as well when the time comes."
His wife, Mary Ann, wrote: "Don was a very intelligent and civilized man, who loved his country and his family and will be missed by all who knew him."

The Class of 1946 is honored to add these simple words that would mean so much to our classmate: "Well Done, Don; Be Thou At Peace!"


'46 Memorial Article Project and his family

 

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