Donald Dean Uppendahl

Donald Dean Uppendahl, 88, a longtime Scituate resident, passed away peacefully on July 19, 2015 at the South Shore Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Mary Jo (Webster) Uppendahl, with whom he shared 66 years of devoted marriage.

He was born November 3, 1926 in Dighton, KS to the late Fred Uppendahl, Jr. and Winnie Hockaday Uppendahl.

Donald graduated from Lane County Community High School in Dighton, KS as Valedictorian and President of his Class of 1945. He was a US Army Veteran of World War II and a graduate of the University of Denver, Class of 1952 where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Donald gathered his family together, and as a “young man” moved east to Scituate in 1956 where they built a home and developed many lifelong friendships. He retired from Merrill Lynch as a Vice President in 1998, where he was employed for nearly 50 years.

Throughout his life, Donald was committed to serving on the Boards and Finance Committees of the Scituate Historical Society, Scituate Arts Association, the Scituate Town Library, the Scituate Youth Center and The Harbor United Methodist Church. He will be remembered for his generous nature, wise insight and honesty. Don had an endearing quality of being relentlessly accurate and detailed orientated.

Don was an honorary member of the Scituate Harbor Yacht Club and spent many summers dining by the harbor circulating the room. Even though Don never learned to swim, being a landlubber from Kansas, Don loved to sail. He looked forward to the weekends sailing and racing in the Wianno Class sailboats and sailed his Cape Dory the “Sundahl” out of Scituate Harbor with his wife, Mary Jo. Don was a coach for his children’s youth teams and is still remembered by team players as an “awesome guy”. Don was his children’s biggest fan in all sports and activities in which they participated; he traveled and attended all events. He treasured his bridge group and time spent with friends. He enjoyed maintaining the grounds around his home working with his wood chipper until dusk. Don was fond of telling stories of his childhood in Kansas and would often say “did you know I grew up in sod house for the first seven years of my life, and look how I turned out!” Don and Mary Jo were beautiful partners on the dance floor, dancing with rhythm and grace.

“We are blessed to have witnessed dad’s love for our mom, and we admire and cherish his family values and the many life lessons he has given us.”

Donald was the devoted father of Cynthia Uppendahl Marsh and her husband James of Andover, Mark Scott Uppendahl and his wife Joan of South Yarmouth and Laura Jo Uppendahl of Scituate.

He was the cherished grandfather of Alexander Marsh, Lauren Marsh, Scott Sanborn, Randall Sanborn and his wife Amy, Christopher Sanborn, Kevin Sanborn and his wife Becky and Claudia Jo Uppendahl. Donald was also the proud great grandfather of Cadence, Nate and Cassidy Sanborn.

Donald was the loving brother of Shirley Eaton of Shields, KS and was predeceased by three brothers Earl, Kenneth and Glenn Uppendahl.

A celebration of Donald’s life will take place on Saturday August 1st, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Trinitarian Congregational Church UCC, 381 Country Way, Scituate.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in his memory to the First Trinitarian Congregational Church UCC, 381 Country Way, Scituate, 02066 or the Scituate Historical Society, PO Box 276, Scituate Massachusetts, 02066.