Our Heavenly Father received a veteran angel when Donald W. Sanner, age 80, passed away on November 22, 2014 under the compassionate care of Willow Manor Assisted Living Community.
Mr. Sanner is survived by his wife Mary of 44 years, six children: his son Carl and wife Sandy of Deming, daughters Jennifer Capozza of Venetia, PA, Donna Johnson of Clinton, IA and Sandy Schultz of IL; step-daughter Mary Campbell of Sterling, IL and step-son John Swanson of Chico, CA. He also leaves behind thirteen grandchildren: Cheyanne, Ciarra and Chase Sanner all of Deming; Jordan Sanner of Phoenix, AZ; Madeline and Gabriella Capozza of Venetia, Pa, Terry and Stacey Johnson of Clinton, IA, Brandy Schultz of IL, Dustin Holschuh of Dixon, IL, Jeffrey Holschuh of Newton, IA, and Bree and Brett Richey of Sterling, IL.
He is preceded in death by his brothers Robert and Gene Sanner; sisters Helen Fighter, Gladys Byers and Dorothy Ackley; his father Carl David Sanner Sr., his mother Mary Sally Briggs and son Donald W. Sanner Jr.
Don is a veteran of the Korean War, where he served in the United States Army from February 1954 until March 1962. Following his military service he was employed as a truck driver for Wheaton Van Lines Moving Company. In 1971 he became employed by the County of Los Angeles, CA Sanitation District as a Diesel Equipment Operator where he retired from as an Equipment Foreman in 1991. Throughout Don's career with the county he was also a property manager and operated his own business, Sanner Locksmith & Key.
Upon retirement Don and Mary moved to Deming, where he became actively involved in the community as a Volunteer Deputy with the Luna County Sherriff's Department. Don was also instrumental in the reformation of VFW Post 1477 where he served as Post Commander until 1995. In December 2001 Don became a volunteer Transportation Coordinator for the Disabled American Veterans Transport Service where he served as a driver and Post Commander of the DAV until 2011 when his declining health no longer allowed him to do so. During his volunteer service with the DAV, Don received numerous awards for his unrelenting commitment to the veteran community, including the distinguished "Superior Service Award" given by the Department of Veteran Affairs for 17,500 hours of volunteer service.
Don took great pride in serving others and went out of his way to do so. His work ethic, dedication and support to his family, friends and fellow veterans never wavered. As General George S. Patton, Jr. once said "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."
Services will be held with full law enforcement and military honors on Monday, December 1, 2014 at Baca's Funeral Chapel, 811 N. Gold Street, Deming, NM 88030. Visitation will begin at 9 am followed by funeral services at 10am with the Reverend Al Bunting officiating. Concluding services and interment will follow at Desert Lawn Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in his memory to Willow Manor Assisted Living Community, 815 W. Adobe Drive, Deming NM 88030.