Obituary: Oglesby, Donald J.
Don was born March 4, 1940 in Aberdeen, Wash., to the late John C. and R. Geraldine (Smith) Oglesby.
He attended Morgan Jr. High School in Ellensburg, Wash., North Central High School in Spokane, Wash., and received his BS degree from the University of the State of New York in 1982.
Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1957, serving on destroyers home ported in Norfolk, Va. and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and at Fleet Sonar School, Key West, Fla.
He received an Honorable Discharge from the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer in 1969 and returned to Spokane.
In 1971 he enlisted in the US Coast Guard and served at Fleet Training Group, Pearl Harbor.
He retired from the Coast Guard in 1982 as a chief warrant officer.
After retiring, he relocated to Onalaska, Wis. and served for 15 years as a Motor Carrier Inspector for the Wisconsin State Patrol as a Motor Carrier Inspector until his retirement in 1999.
Don was an active member in the Military Officers Association of America; he was a member and past president of the La Crosse Chapter and a charter member and secretary/treasurer of the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys Chapter.
He was member of Austintown American Legion Post 301.
He was a member of Grace Fellowship Church, Warren, Ohio and a volunteer reader for Reading Radio Service of Youngstown.
Don was an avid fan of NASCAR and enjoyed fishing, cooking and tracing his family roots in genealogical research.
He is survived by his wife Janet Robison Oglesby.
His four sons, David (Barb) in Negaunee, Mich., Gregory in Spokane, Wash., Wesley (Brenda) in Billings, Mont., and Jon (Sandi) in Mead, Wash, daughter, Kristen (Christopher) McCaskey in Kasson, Minn. Step-daughter, Cindi (Paul) Bunten in Novato, Calif., step-son Brian (Kathleen) Abraham in Mesa, Ariz. Eighteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his late wife Barbara Johnson Abraham of Onalaska, Wis. A memorial service will be held Friday, March 14 at 2:00 p.m. at Sand Lake Wesleyan Church, Onalaska, Wis. Burial will be in the Onalaska Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to a charity of your choice.