Donald J. Hallowell

Donald J. Hallowell (87), long-time resident of both Ft. Collins and Greeley, CO, passed away peacefully, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015, surrounded by his family and loved ones. Son of Francis Glen and Gloyd Hallowell and younger brother to Frank, he was born June 9, 1928, in Jamestown, ND, and spent his youth in Dickinson, ND.

Don was first and foremost a devoted family man. He dearly loved Georgiann (Jan), his wife of 48 years who preceded him in death 16 years ago. Don was the proud father of his son DJ Hallowell, Jr. (wife Nancy), and his daughters Jane Miles (husband Steve Miles) and Leslie Ann Velasco (husband David Velasco). He was blessed with 4 grandsons - Tripp (wife Michele), David Christopher, Matt, Ryan John (wife Caitlin); and 1 great granddaughter - Harper (parents Tripp and Michelle). After his wife’s passing, Don met and shared the love, friendship and companionship of Lynn Lutkin for over 15+ years. He loved and was greatly loved by his family and friends.

Don loved growing up in North Dakota. He hunted, excelled at basketball (’46 State Champs), track, and just about any sport with a ball. He loved his horses, especially Sir Echo, and his dogs, Guard and Count. Don played the clarinet in his high school band. He worked in his father’s movie theaters, The Strand and The Rialto, plus Dickinson Drive-In. Upon graduation from Dickinson High School, Don later graduated from North Dakota University (Grand Forks) with a Natural Sciences degree in Chemistry. Immediately after college, Don was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. During his Air Force career, he was proud to serve in the Korean War with the 67th Fighter Bomber Squadron. He was responsible for managing the 18th Fighter Bomber Wing at K-10 (southern tip of Korea), and K-46 (north of Seoul), from which his squadron’s offensive flight missions take place. He served in Korea, Feb.-Dec. 1952, where he remembers, “Summer at the base [K-46] was hot and humid. Winter cold was like North Dakota.” He achieved the rank of first lieutenant for his service during the Korean War.

Don married Georgiann Remillong, his high school sweetheart, on Sep. 9, 1951. He was released from active duty in June 1953 and returned to his wife and young son, D.J., in Dickinson, ND. In 1953 he was blessed with his second child, Jane. Planning for his family, Don made the decision in 1955 to earn his degree in Pharmacology at North Dakota State University in Fargo. Upon graduation in June 1958 the young family moved to Ft. Benton, MT, where Don began his pharmacy career and soon thereafter, his third child, Leslie Ann, his “Pistol” as he affectionately called her, was born.

Ultimately drawn to the Colorado lifestyle, Don and his family moved first to Louisville in 1964, then to Greeley in 1967, where he owned and operated Campus Pharmacy and all three children later graduated from Greeley Central High School. Then in 1981 he and his wife moved to Ft. Collins, where he lived with Jan and later retired from King Soopers in 1994. Don loved being a professional pharmacist. It was a very fulfilling career that brought him joy from helping others. Throughout his life he greatly enjoyed bird hunting and fishing with his family, skiing with his children, his little dog, Rx, playing bridge and golf, traveling throughout North America with Jan and Lynn, and telling stories of his life and times.

Our father enjoyed life. He was a fantastic husband and father. A talented athlete. Life loyal Sigma Chi. Kiwanis community volunteer. Keen bridge player. Student of the game of golf. Good friend to the many people he met over his 87 year life.

Donations may be made to Porter Hospice Residence, Centennial, CO, care of Allnutt Funeral Service (www.Allnutt.com). The family also asks that you take time to make a memory, not just a moment, with a loved one. We are all grateful and better people for having known him. May all his fairways be green and his putts true. Godspeed.