Donald H. Strietzel, 88, of Huntsville, passed away after a lengthy battle with kidney disease. He died at home with his loving family around him. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Bonnie (Sholley) formerly of Grand Rapids, MI. He also leaves behind his daughters, Catherine Stettler (John) of Kalamazoo, MI and Linda Lee (Bobby); two grandsons, Conrad Lee and Robert Lee, of Huntsville; two “granddaughters”, Lauren Wiseman and Catie Carriger; sister, Jeanette Schwandt of Milwaukee, WI; dear friends Brian and Marlene Naughton of Huntsville, and his faithful dog of 12 years, Brett, as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his first wife Mary (Snyder) of Huntsville, parents Oscar and Emma Strietzel, siblings, Marion, Lucille, Robert, Joseph, and James, all of Milwaukee.
Don was born in Milwaukee, the seventh child of a large, loving, close knit family. He graduated from Messmer High School in 1949 and attended St. Norbert’s College before transferring to Marquette University where he earned his degree in Civil Engineering in 1954. While at Marquette, he was a member of Army ROTC so when he graduated, he was commissioned as second Lieutenant. He was able to get into the Ordnance Corps. He came to Redstone Arsenal and after completing the Guided Missile Officer course, he became a Missile Intelligence officer in charge of the DART, anti-tank missile.
While in Huntsville he met a local girl, Mary Snyder. They married in February 1957. After his army tour was completed, he got a job with the Navy at China Lake, California where he had the best jobs and most exciting work of his career. His lab developed and patented a pilot rocket escape catapult called RAPEC, rocket assisted personnel ejected catapult. It was demonstrated for President Kennedy in March 1963. President Kennedy came to his lab where Don and his team met him; the President shook his hand and congratulated him. A few weeks after the ejection seat was installed in an A-4 aircraft at San Marcos, TX, a pilot had occasion to use it. He came to the lab later to thank them for saving his life.
His team also developed a new variable thrust liquid rocket motor, for which his team got another patent. The design of this later went to the moon on the Lunar Excursion Module. Both Catherine and Linda were born while Don and Mary were at China Lake. They came back to Huntsville when Don was hired by LTV, to head up the LANCE missile operation.
Five years later in 1969 when that program was completed, he went back into civil service and began a long association with the Kwajalein Missile Range.
In 1983, Mary was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away in 1984. Through mutual friends, he was re-introduced to UASF Major Bonnie Sholley, whom he had met previously when she was contracting officer for maintenance and logistics for C Band Radars on Kwajalein.
They married in 1985 and moved to Kwajalein for a year. After returning from Kwajalein, he got involved with Theater Missile Defense. In Washington for a Strategic Defense Initiative conference, he met President Ronald Reagan who spoke to the group.
He retired from government service in 1988 and consulted with Raytheon, primarily doing marketing for Kwajalein. He retired again in 2004.
He considered himself blessed to have a loving family around him his whole life. He and Bonnie were able to travel extensively and for 30 consecutive winters, he enjoyed golf in Lake Wales, Florida, at their winter home. He also got to Lambeau Field to see his beloved Green Bay Packers.
Don was also blessed to have many friends around the country, particularly in Huntsville, and especially at Valley Hill County Club. He was an original member of the club and was a member of Willowbrook prior to it becoming Valley Hill. He played with the “Black Sheep” for 30 years on Saturdays and the nine o’clock group on weekdays. He enjoyed his view of the course and the mountains from the fourth tee for 55 years. Some members of the Black Sheep arranged for Don to meet Brett Favre last July when he spoke at the Boys and Girls Club fundraising dinner, a real highlight in Don’s life.
The family would like to thank Dr. Jeffrey Garber, Marie and Kathy from his office, Dr. Todd Broome, and Dr. William Schneider for their compassionate care. A special thanks to Ashley Greene of Southern Care New Beacon Hospice for her gentle care the last days of his life. Thank you too to Father Tim Pfander for the comfort he provided Don at the end of his life. A faithful lifelong catholic, Don will be inurned at the Good Shepard Columbarium in a private service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to A New Leash on Life or any animal rescue organization.
