Donald William Kaltschmidt Sr., 80

Donald William Kaltschmidt Sr., 80, died at home on Thursday, June 10, 2010, in Kalispell from cancer. He was welcomed into the world as the only child of William and Bertha Kaltschmidt on June 8, 1930, in Queens, New York. At the age of two, the family moved to Carlstadt, N.J., where he spent his growing years in the company of his aunts, uncles and cousins. In 1947, he graduated from East Rutherford High School and later spent a year and a half at Syracuse University on a Football scholarship. He became a patrolman with the Carlstadt police force, and at 22 years of age entered training to become a New Jersey State Trooper and was later stationed on the Turnpike. On July 25, 1955, he married Birthe Jorgensen from Copenhagen, Denmark, and together they had three children, Donald Jr., Karole and Kenneth. In 1968, the family went on an extensive vacation touring across the United States looking for a better place to live and move. Kalispell was the ideal choice and the family packed up and came west, where Don spent his remaining years. Don's gratification and fulfillment came from time spent in the water, swimming or paddling a canoe. He loved dogs and always had a faithful canine companion at his side. He and his wife, Birthe, of 54 years, enjoyed a portion of their retirement as snowbirds, traveling with a camper across the border into Mexico. Don was happy to launch a canoe each morning to go fishing and share the fresh catch. He invested a great deal of his time and energy toward his passion to support and help those in need, and shared a fellowship with all in Alcoholics Anonymous. He is survived by his wife, Birthe Kaltschmidt; two sons, Donald Kaltschmidt Jr. and his wife, Debbie, of Whitefish, and Kenneth Kaltschmidt and his wife, Marcy, of Auburn, Wash.; one daughter, Karole Sommerfield and her husband, Dale, of Kalispell; eight grandchildren, Don Jr. s sons, Erik, Jason, and Kevin, Ken's daughters, Cali, Sierra, and Shelby, and Karole s daughter and son, Stacey and Scott. A memorial service and celebration will be held in honor of Don's life at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 16, in the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Chapel, with Chaplain Bob Thornton of Home Options Hospice officiating. The family suggests memorial donations can be made to Home Options Hospice, 430 Windward Way, Kalispell, MT 59901. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Donald's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Donald's tribute wall.