Donnie Lee Greene

    Donnie Lee Greene was born on March 29, 1922 to George and Margaret Greene at a homestead south of Vernon, CO.  Donnie’s family lived in the sod house for 10 years. In the spring of 1932 they moved to the Kirk Community. Donnie attended a county school for 8 years before graduating from Kirk High School.  Donnie began farming after high school but World War II came along and he decided to volunteer and serve his country by joining the Navy. He spent 18 months training stateside before he was assigned to a new warship, the USS Gage.  The majority of his time at sea was spent in the South Pacific. In June of 1946 he married the love of his life Frances Burkart. Frances started teaching school the year before they were married and talked Donnie into becoming a teacher the next fall.  It wasn’t long before he was back to farming. Donnie and Frances’ son, Tim, was born in 1949, and their daughter, Lael was born in 1953. They rented their farm for 40 years, before saving enough money to buy their own farm in 1986. Donnie was a very active member of the Kirk Community.  He worked and served on the Yuma County USDA committee for 19 years, was a member of the Kirk’s Lions Club, and served on many Coop boards.  Donnie also loved baseball, and spent many years volunteering his time to coach. One of his favorite memories was having the honor to manage the All-star team in the Babe Ruth State Tournament in 1965.  He also dedicated much of his time to boy scouts and 4H.

After his children graduated from college and got married he and Frances began touring the states by bus.  During their travels they were able to visit all of the 50 states. In December of 2013, Donnie and Frances moved to Sunrise Independent Senior Living in Broomfield Colorado.  Donnie is survived by his children Tim and Lael, Tim’s wife Patty, Lael’s husband Steve Etter. Donnie had two grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren: Tony and wife Erika and sons Gavin and Gage.  Andrea and husband Grant Underwood and daughters Sofie and Mia.   All of whom loved him and will miss him very much.

The Funeral Service will be held on Monday, May 14, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the Baucke Funeral Chapel with Chaplin David Burkart officiating.  The interment followed at the Kirk Cemetery, in Kirk, Colorado. 

Memorials may be made to the Hospice of the Plains, PO Box 365, Wray, Colorado 80759 or Suncrest Hospice, 777 East Speer Blvd., Denver, Colorado 80203. 

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