Donald Leo Kiselewski Sr.

On Tuesday, November 1, Donald Leo Kiselewski, Sr., a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away. He was Eighty-Seven. Born to Martha and Leo Kiselewski on July 3, 1935 and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Don graduated from Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering. He married his high school sweetheart, Arline McClellan, on June 21, 1958. The two celebrated 64 years together, raising a family of four, traveling the globe and taking pride in making a positive impact in their community.

Don served 13 years in the military including ROTC, Active and Reserve Duty for the US Army reaching the rank of Captain. His assigned branches included Field Artillery, Guided Missiles, Infantry, Rail Transportation and Quartermaster.

In 1971, Don and Arline relocated the family to Palm Beach Gardens and joined John Perry Building Systems as Director of Engineering. In the years that followed, Don would form his own engineering firm, become a Certified Arbitrator, Certified Mediator, Expert Witness in Construction Litigation, Certified Teacher in Technical Construction, and the holder of eight patents.

By 1988, Don would open and own PBG Travel, a family run travel agency still in operation today. Don’s passion for exploration took him to all 50 states and 122 countries, while also sailing over 750 nights on the oceans, seas, and rivers of the world. He was a prolific travel writer with more than 500 articles published in local media and magazines. Don was recognized as a Certified Travel Specialist in seven separate countries and a four-time winner of Australia’s Opal Award for travel.

Don, however, took most pleasure from his dedication to his beloved City and community. He was elected to the Palm Beach Gardens City Council to four 3-year terms holding the title of Mayor, Vice-Mayor and Councilman. In his tenure as an elected official, he Chaired the County’s Municipal Planning Organization for 9 years, Chaired the Florida MPO, and Chaired the County’s Solid Waste Authority for 9 years where he oversaw the approval, financing, and construction of the $320M Resource Recovery Facility.

In his lifetime, he had great passion for Scouting, having reached the level of Eagle Scout as a young man; education, presiding over multiple PTAs at all levels of k-12; and history, as Co-Founder of the Palm Beach Gardens Historical Society and Co-Author of the Palm Beach Gardens History Book, Images in America. He was also the recipient of the Palm Beach County Historical Associations Pioneer Award.

Don is survived by Arline, his children Karen Kiselewski and husband Brian Link, Chris Chase and daughter Kelly, Beverly Kelly, her son Donald and fiancé Debbie Jones, daughter Melody and husband Ray Shaffer, and grandchildren Donald, Charles and Alexis, and Don Kiselewski, Jr., his wife Heidi and their children Katelyn, Jackson, and Chelsea.

There will be a celebration of Don’s life on November 20th from 1:30pm-4pm at the Palm Beach Gardens Burns Road Recreation Center, located at 4404 Burns Rd., Palm Beach Gardens, with a remembrance of Don at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the Palm Beach Gardens Historical Society or the charity of your choice.