Donald L. Hetland

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.

He was a geologist for the Department of Energy.

Survivors include his wife, Jeannette; one son, Michael D. of Grand Junction; three daughters, Deborah J. Guglielmo of Plymouth, Michigan, Cindy A. Dearden and Shari Cejka-Hollenbaugh, both of Grand Junction; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250.

Donald L. Hetland

January 14, 1925 - November 8, 2016

Donald L. Hetland ""Papoo,"" 91, passed away surrounded by his loving family on November 8, 2016, at the Grand Junction VA Community Living Center. A memorial service will be November 11, at 10:30 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.

Don was born January 14, 1925, in Edgar, Montana to Martin and Dorothy Hetland. After graduating high school he trained as a pilot in the Army Air Corps. Don was a Sergeant for the United States Army and fought in WWII's Asiatic Pacific Theater. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Billings, Montana where he met his wife, Jeannette Kerkhove, and they were married on January 8, 1949.

Don and Jean moved to Seattle, where he attended the University of Washington as a 2nd Lieutenant in the ROTC. Don graduated with a degree in Geological Engineering and subsequently worked for the Atomic Energy Commission, later the Department of Energy. Don and his family moved to several different states, but settled in the early 1960's in Grand Junction, CO.

As a uranium expert, Don was instrumental in the identification and application of natural resources for the United States and the world abroad, he worked on five continents including countries such as Pakistan, Morocco, Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Peru. He presented papers in England and France.

Papoo dedicated his life to our country and his family. In his spare time he loved to golf, enjoyed working with wood in his shop, and enjoyed playing with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Lauren Hetland, and his sister, Nadine Hetland. Papoo is survived by Jeannette, his loving wife of nearly 68 years; his four adult children, Debbie (Dan) Guglielmo, Cindy Dearden, Shari (John) Cejka-Hollenbaugh, and Mike (Gay Lee) Hetland; seven grandchildren, Bill, Rob, Emilie, Sean, Rick, Jess, and Chris, and seven great-grandchildren, Mason, Jeremyah, April, Leland, Brynley, Camden, and Kennadee.

Papoo will be greatly missed. Don's family expresses their deepest gratitude for the caregivers and providers at the Community Living Center, the VA Hospital, and Cristina's Quality Care Services.