Obituary for Donald Leon McCroskey
Donald Leon McCroskey (January 14, 1935 – April 13, 2023) passed away comforted by loving family at the age of 88, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri while recovering from surgery.
A visitation will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 27, 2023, followed immediately by a funeral mass, at his home parish of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Springfield. Family and friends will attend a luncheon after the mass concludes, and then proceed to Resurrection Cemetery for a graveside service and interment of the ashes.
Donald (Don) was born and raised in Springfield. He was the oldest of two children of Fred & Pearl McCroskey. He graduated with Willard High School’s Class of 1953, having been elected student body president, singing in the glee club, playing jazz saxophone, and making the starting five on the basketball team. After graduation, Don enlisted in the Naval Reserve for two years, but continued to work close to home at such diverse jobs as teaching resort-goers at the Lake of the Ozarks how to water ski, and as a roller dance instructor.
Don enlisted in the Air Force and served his four-plus years during the early 1950’s at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska and McChord AFB, Washington. It was during this time that he developed a love of flying, radios, and photography: he was an aerial reconnaissance photographer in the back seat of F-89’s, and served as a crew chief on F-106’s, in Alaska. He did extra duty as a staff photographer for the base newspaper at both locations, and was also assigned to the base communications squadron.
After his military service, Don met his wife, Stephanie “Stevie” (Wilkinson) McCroskey in 1961 at a wedding where they had agreed to serve as the best man and maid of honor. Although Don’s teasing about Stephanie’s short nails (she was doing her nursing school surgical rotation at the time) didn’t endear him to her initially, he eventually won her over. As a Springfield Police Officer, he cut a dashing, trustworthy image with the Sisters of Mercy, who relented in their watchfulness sufficiently for romance to blossom. Don and Stephanie were married on September 14, 1963. They settled down in Springfield and bought a house. Luckily for Don, his new wife was fiscally adept – they soon lived in a nicely furnished home and began thinking of starting a family.
Over their first fourteen years of marriage, Don and Stephanie brought four children into the world – Erick (’65), Timothy (’67), Patrick (’68), and Allison (’75) – and lived in ten different houses. While Stephanie continued to work as a nurse part-time while raising the kids, Don progressed through ever-better positions as he searched for his dream job – Green County Deputy Sheriff, guard at Springfield’s Medical Center for Federal Prisoners, FAA Flight Service Station, and eventually FAA Air Traffic Controller. His service to his nation, his love of aviation, and his inspirational stories likely had much to do with all four of his children joining the Air Force and serving a combined 53+ years of service.
Despite the numerous relocations that Don’s jobs required, he remained steadfastly committed to his extended family. Numerous trips across the Midwest via station wagon ensured that he and Stephanie were able to support their parents, and that their kids grew up close to their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Later, Don and Stephanie moved to the Springfield area for good, and they decided to embrace country life in 1977 by purchasing “the farm” in the Bois D’Arc area, a sixteen-acre plot of land on which to build their dream house. Stephanie’s parents would take up residence on the land as well a few years later, and all four kids enjoyed the experiences that rural living provided.
Wherever he went, Don made an impression. Larger than life, the self-styled “Duke of Bois D’Arc” was always ready with a joke and a smile, a helping hand, a listening ear, and a big heart – and if you didn’t already have a nickname, you can be sure he’d give you one! He was one of those rare individuals about which one could say, “to know him is to love him.” When he spoke with you, you truly felt like he was listening with all his being, and that he valued what you had to say, regardless of whether you were a Congressmen on an orientation visit, a brother- or sister-in-law, a distant cousin from the far-flung McCroskey family, a high school buddy, a weather-beaten farmer hanging out at the local barbershop, a teammate on his church’s adult softball team, a niece or nephew, a waitress at Shady Inn or Grand Fortuna, or the high school friend of one of his children.
Don was particularly proud of his Scottish heritage, and thoroughly enjoyed the land, culture, and whisky there during his sole visit to “the homeland” in 2009. He also took pride in his skills with a pistol, a tractor, a basketball, and a radar scope – but he rarely bragged, instead letting his actions speak for him. As an air traffic controller, he strived to be the best controller in every facility he was assigned to, and to mentor his controller trainees in his cocky, aggressive, and confident style – and he succeeded, with colleagues from across the FAA frequently referring to him as “the best controller I ever knew.”
Don was a convert to the Catholic faith in his later years, a loving and adoring husband to Stephanie, a supportive and caring father to his four beloved children, a spirited and funny grandfather, welcoming and kind father-in-law, son, brother, uncle, and friend to all. He lived a life of service as a coach of his sons’ baseball team, a Boy Scout leader, a volunteer fire fighter and first responder with the Bois D’Arc Fire Department, a Church Vestry member, a volunteer National Weather Service augmentee and storm chaser, a loyal member of American Legion Post 676, and a Military Affiliate Radio Station operator. He was an example to his friends, colleagues, and community, always willing to help anyone in need. He lived a joyful life, taking people at face value, maintaining a steadfast faith, and striving to care deeply for his wife and to give his children a better life than he had.
Don has joined in heaven his father and mother, and his in-laws Stephen and Dorothy Wilkinson.
Don is survived by his wife Stephanie McCroskey; their children Erick McCroskey, Timothy McCroskey, Patrick McCroskey, and Allison Parks; his daughters-in-law, Tamara McCroskey, Emily Kessinger-McCroskey, Amy McCroskey; his son-in law Michael Parks; his nine grandchildren, Nathaniel, Corrine, Cameron, Ellie, Hayley, Alexa, Cooper, Collin, and Charlotte; and his sister Wanda Chamberlain.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com
A visitation will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 27, 2023, followed immediately by a funeral mass, at his home parish of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Springfield. Family and friends will attend a luncheon after the mass concludes, and then proceed to Resurrection Cemetery for a graveside service and interment of the ashes.
Donald (Don) was born and raised in Springfield. He was the oldest of two children of Fred & Pearl McCroskey. He graduated with Willard High School’s Class of 1953, having been elected student body president, singing in the glee club, playing jazz saxophone, and making the starting five on the basketball team. After graduation, Don enlisted in the Naval Reserve for two years, but continued to work close to home at such diverse jobs as teaching resort-goers at the Lake of the Ozarks how to water ski, and as a roller dance instructor.
Don enlisted in the Air Force and served his four-plus years during the early 1950’s at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska and McChord AFB, Washington. It was during this time that he developed a love of flying, radios, and photography: he was an aerial reconnaissance photographer in the back seat of F-89’s, and served as a crew chief on F-106’s, in Alaska. He did extra duty as a staff photographer for the base newspaper at both locations, and was also assigned to the base communications squadron.
After his military service, Don met his wife, Stephanie “Stevie” (Wilkinson) McCroskey in 1961 at a wedding where they had agreed to serve as the best man and maid of honor. Although Don’s teasing about Stephanie’s short nails (she was doing her nursing school surgical rotation at the time) didn’t endear him to her initially, he eventually won her over. As a Springfield Police Officer, he cut a dashing, trustworthy image with the Sisters of Mercy, who relented in their watchfulness sufficiently for romance to blossom. Don and Stephanie were married on September 14, 1963. They settled down in Springfield and bought a house. Luckily for Don, his new wife was fiscally adept – they soon lived in a nicely furnished home and began thinking of starting a family.
Over their first fourteen years of marriage, Don and Stephanie brought four children into the world – Erick (’65), Timothy (’67), Patrick (’68), and Allison (’75) – and lived in ten different houses. While Stephanie continued to work as a nurse part-time while raising the kids, Don progressed through ever-better positions as he searched for his dream job – Green County Deputy Sheriff, guard at Springfield’s Medical Center for Federal Prisoners, FAA Flight Service Station, and eventually FAA Air Traffic Controller. His service to his nation, his love of aviation, and his inspirational stories likely had much to do with all four of his children joining the Air Force and serving a combined 53+ years of service.
Despite the numerous relocations that Don’s jobs required, he remained steadfastly committed to his extended family. Numerous trips across the Midwest via station wagon ensured that he and Stephanie were able to support their parents, and that their kids grew up close to their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Later, Don and Stephanie moved to the Springfield area for good, and they decided to embrace country life in 1977 by purchasing “the farm” in the Bois D’Arc area, a sixteen-acre plot of land on which to build their dream house. Stephanie’s parents would take up residence on the land as well a few years later, and all four kids enjoyed the experiences that rural living provided.
Wherever he went, Don made an impression. Larger than life, the self-styled “Duke of Bois D’Arc” was always ready with a joke and a smile, a helping hand, a listening ear, and a big heart – and if you didn’t already have a nickname, you can be sure he’d give you one! He was one of those rare individuals about which one could say, “to know him is to love him.” When he spoke with you, you truly felt like he was listening with all his being, and that he valued what you had to say, regardless of whether you were a Congressmen on an orientation visit, a brother- or sister-in-law, a distant cousin from the far-flung McCroskey family, a high school buddy, a weather-beaten farmer hanging out at the local barbershop, a teammate on his church’s adult softball team, a niece or nephew, a waitress at Shady Inn or Grand Fortuna, or the high school friend of one of his children.
Don was particularly proud of his Scottish heritage, and thoroughly enjoyed the land, culture, and whisky there during his sole visit to “the homeland” in 2009. He also took pride in his skills with a pistol, a tractor, a basketball, and a radar scope – but he rarely bragged, instead letting his actions speak for him. As an air traffic controller, he strived to be the best controller in every facility he was assigned to, and to mentor his controller trainees in his cocky, aggressive, and confident style – and he succeeded, with colleagues from across the FAA frequently referring to him as “the best controller I ever knew.”
Don was a convert to the Catholic faith in his later years, a loving and adoring husband to Stephanie, a supportive and caring father to his four beloved children, a spirited and funny grandfather, welcoming and kind father-in-law, son, brother, uncle, and friend to all. He lived a life of service as a coach of his sons’ baseball team, a Boy Scout leader, a volunteer fire fighter and first responder with the Bois D’Arc Fire Department, a Church Vestry member, a volunteer National Weather Service augmentee and storm chaser, a loyal member of American Legion Post 676, and a Military Affiliate Radio Station operator. He was an example to his friends, colleagues, and community, always willing to help anyone in need. He lived a joyful life, taking people at face value, maintaining a steadfast faith, and striving to care deeply for his wife and to give his children a better life than he had.
Don has joined in heaven his father and mother, and his in-laws Stephen and Dorothy Wilkinson.
Don is survived by his wife Stephanie McCroskey; their children Erick McCroskey, Timothy McCroskey, Patrick McCroskey, and Allison Parks; his daughters-in-law, Tamara McCroskey, Emily Kessinger-McCroskey, Amy McCroskey; his son-in law Michael Parks; his nine grandchildren, Nathaniel, Corrine, Cameron, Ellie, Hayley, Alexa, Cooper, Collin, and Charlotte; and his sister Wanda Chamberlain.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com