Donald Lee "Coach" Hastings

Don Hastings was born to Ruth Kathryn (Mansfield) and James Willard “JW” Hastings in Ponca City, Oklahoma. He was raised there with his older brother (“June”) and two older sisters (Kathryn and Doris), and enjoyed an idyllic childhood in the charming, midwestern town with cobblestone streets and rolling parks, influenced by the strong community ties to Continental Oil.

Don was an athlete in every sense of the word – football, wrestling and baseball. He competed through Ponca City High School and received a football scholarship to Westmar University in Le Mars, Iowa. After two years, he was recruited by the Army and deployed to Okinawa, and Japan. He played football, wrestled and even played badminton for the Army.

He and his lifelong love, Joanne Hastings (Schwartz) first met at church camp in Topeka, KS – he from Ponca City, OK and she from Baldwin, KS – 71 years ago. Don had just graduated from high school and Joanne was just beginning high school. They corresponded for years and were married after Don returned from overseas to finish his service with the Air Force National Guard in Stillwater, where he and Joanne finished their degrees at Oklahoma State University. Don and Joanne were married 65 years ago this month at Worden Church outside of Baldwin, KS.

Don was a teacher and coach. First at Lamar High School (Colorado), then Tulsa McClain (Oklahoma), and Widefield High School in Colorado Springs where he led several football league championship teams, a state semi-finals team and received Coach of the Year accolades. He then ventured into the restaurant business, opening five Pizza Inn restaurants around the city. When tiring of restaurant schedules, he worked in the commercial mortgage business and, finally, returning to his passion of teaching and coaching at Ellicott High School, just east of Colorado Springs.

Don is survived by his loving wife, Joanne, son James Ridgeway “JR” Hastings, and daughter Kim Mutchler Walsh (Dick) and their children and grandchildren. Don was so proud of his granddaughter Jordan Mutchler Hunt (Bailey) and delighted by their three children, his great-grandchildren, Gage Hastings (6), Tatum Kay (5) and Margot Bailey (2). Don also is survived by nephew Larry Cable (Cynthia), who was a part of their family for many years.

Don enjoyed all of his many nieces and nephews and was happy to be involved in their lives. He was surrounded by so many caring and loving former athletes and coaches during the months, weeks and even days before his passing. So many were his dear, dear friends.

We will celebrate Don’s wonderful and full life with a service on Saturday, August 31 at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary at First United Methodist Church, 420 North Nevada Avenue in Colorado Springs. A reception will follow. A military committal service will take place on Monday, September 2, at 9 a.m. at the Pikes Peak National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that any donations be made to the Goodwill Foundation of Colorado, where JR participated in the Colorado Springs Possibilities and other programs for more than 30 years. Please include “Don Hastings Memorial” in the memo line of a check and send to Goodwill of Colorado Foundation, 1460 Garden of the Gods Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80907