Donald E. Scieszinski

Donald Scieszinski, age 84, of Grandview, MO passed away on Friday January 26, 2024 at St. Joseph Medical Center of Kansas City. He was born on April 22, 1939 in Melrose, IA to Leo and Evelyn (Crall) Scieszinski. He was the third of five children, with older brothers David and Raymond, and sister Lucille and brother Gene.

Don graduated from Melrose High School with the class of 1957. He enlisted in the United States Army in June of 1957, and served until he was honorably discharged in June of 1963. He also served in the Iowa National Guard from 1976 until 1981.

He married Joan Sullivan on October 29, 1960 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Albia, IA. They settled in Des Moines, IA and Don attended technical school to study electronics. After completing his technical training he began employment with AT&T in 1962. While living in Des Moines, Don and Joan added sons Mark and Ron to the family.

In 1966 Don and his family moved to Ottumwa, IA where he continued his career at AT&T as an electronics technician. He and his family remained in Ottumwa until November 1982 when they moved to Kansas City, where he continued to serve AT&T in a management capacity until his retirement in 1989. He again worked for a few years after retirement in the telecommunications industry. He traveled the country installing telecom infrastructure and restoring communication access in disaster situations until ending his electronics career.

Don grew up on a farm and carried his capacity for energy and hard work until the end of his life. He loved to work with his hands, never happier than when he was completing home or car repairs. He rebuilt cars from the ground up, performed much of the construction work for the house he built in Ottumwa, added the garage, built a TV from a kit, and built furniture and loved woodworking his entire life. He loved to tend to his small garden and was an intense competitor in the annual neighborhood contest to grow the largest tomatoes. He also bought farmland in his post-retirement years, and loved the hard toil of working the land into his 80’s.

He remained determined and resilient throughout his life, always bouncing back from adversity and illness until his last moments. Outwardly stoic and reserved, he was nevertheless proud of his family and cherished his grandchildren. The happiest days of his retirement were those spent with his grandkids and tracking and attending the many activities they were involved with. There was nothing in life that delighted him more than the sight of his grandchildren or the sound of their voices on the phone.

Don is survived by his wife, Joan of Grandview; children, Mark Scieszinski (Susan) of Raymore, and Ron Scieszinski of Grandview, two grandchildren, Kevin Scieszinski of Kansas City, and Sarah Scieszinski of Raymore, brother-in-law Jimmy Sullivan of Ankeny, IA, sister-in-law Patricia Scieszinski of Melrose, IA and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Evelyn Scieszinski, brothers David, Raymond, and Gene, and sister Lucille Sullivan, and his father- and mother-in-law, John and Ann Sullivan.

The family has requested, in lieu of flowers, remembrances to Donald be made in a monetary contribution that will be donated to Welcome Home Soldier Monument in Albia, IA. https://www.welcomehomesoldiermonument.com/