Col. Donald R. Griesmer, USAF, Ret.

Col. Donald Robert Griesmer, USAF, Ret., 86, of Memphis, Tennessee, formerly of Annandale, Virginia, passed away on March 3, 2015. He died peacefully surrounded by his family. Don was born in Cleveland on July 18, 1928. He attended De La Salle Collegiate High School in Detroit, Michigan and then graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1951. He obtained an M.S. degree in Nuclear Engineering from North Carolina State University in 1957 and an M.S. degree in Business Administration and Management from M.I.T. in 1969. Don married Therese Schneider of Detroit, on June 23, 1951. Donald was commissioned a 2ndLt in the U.S. Air Force on June 1, 1951. During his 30-year Air Force career, he was an F-86 Sabre pilot, a project officer for nuclear weapons effects testing, the executive officer for the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Research and Development in the Pentagon, and project manager for missile and satellite programs. He enjoyed golf, traveling, and stamp collecting and was actively involved with Saint Michael Catholic Church in Annandale, Virginia. Don was an Eagle Scout and participated in scouting programs for many years. Don was a loyal and devoted husband and loving father. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Therese, daughters Susan Bucci and Anne Wander, and sons Michael, Thomas and David, eight granddaughters and three grandsons, one great granddaughter, and his sister, Ruth Koerber of Dearborn, Michigan. Donald was preceded in death by his brother James H. Griesmer of Atlanta. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 6 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. Don will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery this summer.