Donald Edison Pillmore

Donald Edison Pillmore of Longmont died October 28, 2013. He was 86 years old.Don was born on January 1, 1927 in Boulder to Edison and Martha (Conkey) Pillmore. Don attended Casey Jr. High and Boulder High, and graduated from Lafayette High School. In school he was active in sports. While growing up he worked summers at Waneka's farm- operating a threshing machine, shocking wheat and corn and herding cattle. Following graduation from high school he worked at Kuner Empson canning plant, the pea harvest and at Gates Rubber Co. At the age of 17 Don enlisted in the United States Navy, his Dad had to sign. He did his Boot Camp and Service School “ Signalman, training at Great Lakes Naval Station. He was assigned to a destroyer escort, although Don did not see any war zone action. He was honorably discharged on July 6, 1946.Returning to Colorado he attended the University of Colorado, Boulder for two years studying electrical engineering. Don joined Public Service Company of Colorado in the electric utility department on Oct. 8, 1948 and retired in March of 1988.Don met the love of his life Margaret ˜Margie' Fiolkoski the summer of 1949 while square dancing. They were married on October 1, 1950 in Denver. This was a double wedding with Margie's sister Jean and Ken Waneka. Following their marriage they moved to Boulder and purchased a home on Jefferson St. in 1953. Don and Margie moved to Gunbarrel in 1978 and to Longmont in 1992.Don was a member at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church and then at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church; both in Boulder and finally at St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church in Longmont.Don was active in Boy Scouts of America with his sons, who were members of Troop 72 at Sacred Heart of Jesus. He served as a member of the Arapah District executive committee and was a past chair; attended leadership training at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM and participated in Boundary Water trips to Charles L. Sommers Wilderness Can Base in Ely, MN. Don was a big help to Mark and Donn attaining their Eagle Scout Badges. Don and Margie loved to dance. They were members of the Rhythm Reelers Square Dance Club, also enjoyed ballroom dancing, and loved to travel all over the US, Canada and to foreign countries. He was an avid bridge player and belonged to a Bridge Club.Don was a member of America Legion Post 32 and part of a group of WWII veterans who had all been on the Honor Flight to Washington, DC and met monthly for lunch. Don was preceded in death by his parents, wife Margie, brother Chuck Pillmore, brother-in-law Larry Dugan, and sisters-in-law Jean Waneka, Barbara Pillmore, Dorothy Pillmore and Mary Pillmore.Don is survived by two sons, Donn Pillmore (Melanie) and Mark Pillmore (Kathy), a daughter, Kay Burkett (Rob), his brothers Dick and George Pillmore, brother-in-law Ken Waneka, sisters-in-law Arlene Pillmore and Fran Dugan, eight grandchildren, Kristy Wilkey (Jared), Jennie Soderquist (Clint), Jason Pillmore (Amanda), John Pillmore (Maggie), Matthew Pillmore, Adam Pillmore (Leslie), Jamie Burkett, and Kimberly Green (Justin); fourteen great-grandchildren, Whitney, Dalton, Shelby, Shaye, Sadie, Taylor, Ryan, Mila, Hailee, Nicholas, Samuel, Aidan, Celisa and Gavin.Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00PM, Thursday, November 7 at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, with family present to greet friends. Cremation will follow visitation at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel and Crematory. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00AM on Friday, November 8 at St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, 3791 Pike Road, Longmont. Share condolences and memories with Don's family at www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, please donate, in care of Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, to the American Lung Association, TRU Community Care (formerly Boulder County Hospice) or a charity of your choice.