Donan "Don" James Starmach

Don was born on May 9, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois, to Margie Marie (Thompson) and Walter Frank Starmach. Don attended St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr grammar school and graduated in 1961 with perfect attendance. He wanted to be called Don most of his life, until his later years he seemed to accept and cherish that his mother named him Donan. He served as an altar boy for the church, received all his sacraments, and believed in God. Don graduated from Weber High School in 1965, excelling in mathematics and Latin, and again with perfect attendance.

After graduation Don moved into his own apartment in Chicago and started working for Sears Roebuck & Company driving a truck for deliveries for 10 years. He once delivered a children’s swing set to Ron Santo’s house. When Mr. Santo wondered how long it would take him to put it together, Don’s quick wit was always a fast answer, “Probably a baseball season.” Ron was not as amused as Don was. Don made great money and went on extravagant vacations to Acapulco, Mexico and Jamaica. He also liked fast cars, and his first classic was his 1965 Black Pontiac GTO, which he said was, “Faster than the wind!”

On November 8, 1967, Don was ordered for induction into the Armed Forces of the United States, drafted. On November 11, 1967, First Class Starmach said good-bye to his family as he boarded the train to army basic training camp. Denise, his little sister, was 8 years old and wrote him a letter every day, then stapled them at the end of the week and mailed it, sometimes with boxes of goods his family packed, along with mom’s homemade chocolate chip cookies. Don saw horrific things, many dead, and he would never return home quite the same, and was diagnosed with PTSD. He would never attend a funeral after that experience, and mentioned that he saw enough dead people.

On May 9, 1969, Don’s 22nd birthday, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism with “V” Device in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Private First Class Starmach distinguished himself while serving with Battery C, 6th Battalion, 29th Artillery, 4th Infantry Division. As Landing Zone Penny was attacked by a large enemy force, Private First Class Starmach left the safety of his bunker and moved to his howitzer to engage the enemy inside the perimeter with antipersonnel projectiles. Private First Class Starmach’s personal bravery, initiative, and exemplary devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. A true patriot, Donan James Starmach is a hero and loved his country, the United States of America.

On June 13, 1969, Denise’s 10th birthday, Don came home from the army. He lived with his family who moved from 5341 W. Deming Place, Chicago, Illinois, to 602 Webley Lane,Schaumburg, Illinois. Don then moved into an apartment a few miles from home, close to his mother that had a tragic brain injury accident when he was in the army. Don loved his mother extremely and there was a special bond between them. He applied for, and was employed as, a mail carrier for the United States Post Office and started delivering in Schaumburg at Woodfield Mall. Soon after his mother died in 1976, he moved into the 17th floor penthouse of the Pavilion apartments in Chicago. He transferred to a route in Chicago when he bought his house at 3126 George Street, Franklin Park, Illinois, in 1982 where he resided until his passing. After 30 years Don retired from the post office.

Don always saved his money up, then bought the best of things. He owned a 1969 White Harley Davidson, sold his 1965 Pontiac GTO for a classic 1963 Chevy Impala. In 1984 he owned a 1966 Chevy Biscayne, and in 1990 he bought a black Chevy pickup truck that still runs to this day. In 2000, Don walked into a Dodge dealership to buy a brand new black Dodge Viper for $83,000 cash.

Don enjoyed carnival rides and always took Denise to them when she was growing up. At Great America, he always wanted to be in the first seat on the Raging Bull or any roller coaster. Don was an avid rock music lover and listened with the latest technology. Enjoying time and his life with his best friend and little sister Denise, together they were entertained by his pin ball games, Seinfeld, Shark Tank, Family Feud, Andy Griffith, movies, and the Cubs, on a weekly basis. In 1985, Denise asked Don to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. He was also the Godfather of Denise’s daughter Rebecca Denise Marra, and two other nieces.

Uncle Don was always on the floor, playing games with all his nieces and nephews. He enjoyed all 13 of them, and was full of presents for every one of them every Christmas until they were grown. Santa Claus was his job on Christmas day when they were young, making even the adults laugh. Don was a born natural comedian and entertainer, and loved to make and hear everyone laugh. He did imitations and voices of most Warner Bros. cartoon characters, Seinfeld, Rodney Dangerfield, George Carlin, and many more.

Always a generous uncle, Denise had six children who adored him, Matthew, Nicholas, Amanda, Rebecca, Melissa, and Joseph Marra. He came to her house regularly on every holiday. Uncle Don always came up with the best gifts for all of them like a wooden backyard swing set with treehouse or a go-cart to ride on their property. He was the fun uncle, the one everyone loved, everyone laughed with, everyone hated to see leave, and everyone looked forward to seeing again. Don will always be remembered for his quick wit, his infectious smile and laugh, and his kind and compassionate spirit.

Even though he never owned a pet, Don loved animals, especially dogs. Don was 17 years old when we got our first pet, a Boxer named Duke. Duke, who was four years old, was the most well trained dog anyone has ever seen. He came from a family that had 10 children and couldn’t keep him anymore, so our father took him home to us. Don loved Duke who lived to 12 years old. Years later, Buster was Denise’s dog that came to visit Don with Denise on a weekly basis, and became Don’s best friend also, until Buster died at 14 years old.

Joseph Don Marra joined the army in February 2015 and became extremely close with his uncle, talking army slang and had a true bond between them being army comrades. They wrote letters back and forth, and talked on the phone often. Joseph loved his uncle and posted this on his Facebook when Don passed, "Today on April 21st 2020 at 9:41 pm my Uncle Don Starmach died. Throughout my life Uncle Don was there, at Thanksgivings, Christmases, and the very occasional drop in. He would always do this trick with his thumb to make it seem like he was actually taking it off, it amazed me even into my teenage years. One holiday he bought us kids a go-cart with a roll cage, we loved that go cart, after a few years us kids got tired of riding it around and doing maintenance to keep it running, we would occasionally get it fixed and then ride it around for a little bit, but one day Matt and his friends decided to make a ramp and jump it down the hill in our backyard, Matt broke his head open and went to the ER. Who knows where Matt would be today if he hadn't gotten that stupidity out with the go-cart Uncle Don got us. As a child my uncle and I were not extremely close, however I always looked up to him and I wanted to be in the Army just like him. Shortly before I joined the Army I started asking him for advice once I am in. He was more than helpful, he told me not to volunteer for anything, never be first and never be last, that will help you stay alive. I took his advice and it could not have been more helpful. He would send me letters in basic training telling me about his experiences and I would share mine with him. His letters meant a hell of a lot to me, more than the average person might understand. After basic training Uncle Don and I would talk on the phone, sometimes for hours. I would tell him about how my nickname became "The Don" and how one of my NCO's that literally did not know how to properly wipe his ass and he would tell me about his asshole Platoon Sergeant that recommended his award for the events that took place on his birthday in 1969 be downgraded from a bronze star. As time went on Uncle Don and I became very close. When I came closer to getting out of the Army, Uncle Don had offered to let me stay with him in his house for free. He had a whole upstairs addition to his house that was essentially an apartment. He told me I could stay with him until I figured out what I would do with my life after the Army, and even longer if I wanted to stay with him. We had built a friendship that meant so much to me. Not too long after this conversation, Uncle Don was hit by a car while walking across the street, he suffered from brain injuries that he would eventually not be able to recover from. The brain injuries made him forget a lot of our relationship, he remembered me, sort of, but did not remember the great friendship we had built. I will never forget the amazing times we had together and the relationship that meant so much to me. I will always be proud to have your name. Till Valhalla Uncle Don.

With Love,

The Don"

On November 27, 2017, Don was walking across the street near Mannheim and Grand Avenues in Franklin Park when a car hit him. He had a brain bleed, multiple fractures in his head, feet, and legs, and stayed in the hospital for six weeks. Denise gave up her life and moved in with Don to take care of him, only to discover that Don was suffering from dementia. Even though this disease deteriorates the mind, Don always knew Denise, and would have the number one answer to the question on Family Feud until he couldn’t talk anymore.

“Best friends to the end” was repeated regularly, and the response to Denise’s I love you were, “I love you more!” was just a small reflection of their relationship. Don was not only a war hero, he was also a hero to his sister and her children. She was always taken care of by him in any way, as best he could, throughout her life and after. Denise was grateful and honored to care for her brother to the end. She took care of him and was with him every day, held his hand, and told him she loved him until she couldn’t anymore. Don died on the evening of April 21, 2020.

Don was preceded in death by his sister Denise Lee Marra and her six children, Matthew Louis Marra, Nicholas Robert Marra, Amanda Margie Marra (Goodland), Rebecca Denise Marra, Melissa Jennie Marra, and Joseph Don Marra, and his siblings, Diane Starmach (Schreiber), Duane Starmach, and Darryl Starmach. Other nieces and nephews include Elmer SchreiberJr., Nicole Schreiber (Vogl), Brian Starmach, Duane Starmach, Sarah Starmach, Jonathon Starmach, and Katie Starmach. A private funeral service was held on, Friday, May 8, 2020, a day before his 73rd birthday, at 12:45 pm for family only, at Irving Park Cemetery, 7777 Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL, Section Bethayers Veterans Block 75, Lot 3, Space 12, next to a huge, beautiful oak tree, under a canape of leaves. Don’s memorable burial ceremony included a Graveside Service with Military Honors from the Rifle Guard which included Joseph Don Marrain full Army uniform, playing of the Taps, and Folding of the Flag, which was handed to Don’s little sister and his best friend in life and beyond, Denise Lee Starmach Marra. Don will live on forever in Denise’s heart and soul, and in her stories of his hilarious sense of humor, and intensely deep emotions of unconditional love.