It is not often in life that you meet people who have such an impact on one’s lives. We met Don and Kathy through our son in law Ken Stark. What a blessing. When we would visit them they made us feel like family. They were such accommodating and gracious hosts. We will always cherish the wonderful memories. Donny would occasionally text me and discuss sports. Primarily baseball. I always looked forward to that small but significant connection. He was larger than life. He will be missed beyond measure. Kathy we love you and are here for you and your family always.

Kathleen, Luke and Drew....my thoughts and prayers are with you as you navigate this tremendous loss. 
 I had not seen much of Don in the last years but have followed him through his career with Schwab and was incredibly proud of his success and the leader he became.   Michael remembers the bike rides when Don would leave him in the dust... I remember him for his thoughtful
approach to tough situations and how much he loved his family. My girls remember him for the time he spent with them at Chairmans Club  watching our dog Buck...and Kathleen's cookies.

He leaves us with a legacy of kindness and grace.  He will be missed.

I am so sorry to hear about Don's passing. He was always such a force and a presence to those around him. I worked with him for many years and Don was always so kind to me coming in and working with his people, continually checking in to make sure everyone was treating me fairly. He was a colleague and a friend and pretty exceptional at both. 

He will most certainly be missed, and the family will all be in our thoughts and prayers. I am so sorry your loss.

What can one say about a life taken too soon.
Don was my best friend: the kind of friend that brothers could never be.
We spoke just about every day. No matter where I was in the world. Trivial things that made us chuckle or brought back a memory or a point in time. Things only we and a few others would know.
He was my friend during the darkest moments of my life, when others had abandoned me. He was there during the highlights of my life, sharing in my successes and triumphs.
When I was an idiot, he would call me out - and what he thought of me mattered. He hated this word but it’s true- he had gravitas. 
His family was there for my daughter and when I needed support. The message was always the same- we are here to help!
Don never lost sight of what mattered most: family, God, honor, courage. He was old school in the most conventional ways, which is why he was so successful in business and life.
I’ve known Don and Kathleen for over 40 years. My life has been melded and shaped in incalculable ways by their family and friendship. I’m a better man for it. 
The Lord works in mysterious ways and I know there is a plan here. 
I guess I just miss my friend.

They say as long as you remain in our hearts, you’ll never be gone…Don will be so missed by so many, but his bright light will always shine.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Kathleen, Luke and Drew, and your beautiful grandchildren - all of you so dear to Don.

God bless you all.

Uncle Don has been a staple in my life for as long as I can remember. Even from across the country, I always felt his love and support. The beautiful life he and Aunt Kathy built together was something I always admired, and the love they shared was evident to everyone who knew them.

Every time I saw him, I’d hear that deep voice “SPENCINI! My little Italian niece!” It always made me smile.

He had such a zest for life and wanted everyone around him to experience as much of it as he did. He was always sharing whatever he was eating and even made me try eel for the first time. Uncle Don and Aunt Kathy welcomed me into so many adventures. They let me tag along on their trip to California for my 16th birthday, where I felt my first earthquake. Drew and I still laugh about how much he loved the hotel air conditioner on that trip (brr!).

He loved music and was always quizzing us on artists. I’ll forever remember that Rock the Casbah is by The Clash because of him. From Real Housewives to the last movie we watched together, As Good as It Gets, he loved sharing his favorite shows and movies with me. Every one of them now carries a memory of him.

More than anything, he was always excited to hear about life’s updates. He had a way of making people feel seen, loved, and important. I know he gave that gift to so many people, and I’m grateful I was one of them.

He truly was one of a kind, and I will miss him so much. 

I love you so much, Aunt Kathy, Luke, Drew, Christian, Ryann, and Nolan. My heart is with all of you.

Writing this is very hard.  Thoughts of Don are flooding my mind and every memory involves Don’s kindness, generosity, sense of humor and humility.   It is often said that in the Schwab culture, colleagues can become best friends.  That was certainly the case with Don.  The common experiences and shared work environment led to a friendship that I will always cherish.  Don’s legacy can be easily seen in the number and depth of relationships forged over the years through Schwab.  He will be missed greatly by all of us.

Some of my fondest memories are…..pool parties at Fred’s, sneaking out of work to play golf, Friday afternoon runs up Mummy Mtn., calling/texting randomly to stump each other with Seinfeld trivia, and, of course, offsite RBE meetings with Bob K., John F., Dave H., and Lisa H.

Prayers up for Kathleen, Drew, Luke and the rest of Don’s family.

Like many others, I met Don while working at Schwab. Although I hadn’t seen or spoken with him in years, the news of his passing came as an unbelievable shock.

Don was larger than life. His laugh, sense of humor, and humble approach to life are things I will never forget. He was not only a colleague, but also a true friend, coach, mentor, inspirational leader, prankster, and one of the best storytellers I have ever known.

Don will be deeply missed by so many whose lives he touched.

Kathleen and family, there are no words to express how sorry I am for your loss. It was apparent to everyone who knew Don that his love for his family was the most important thing in his life. Please know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

With deepest sympathy,
Nancy

Don has been in my life since I was 8yrs old. My sister’s boyfriend, who was a regular in our home became someone whom  I admired and loved. When Kathy would be in the house getting ready to go out on dates, Don would be out in the yard throwing the football around with me. When Kathy was done and ready to go (and giving me “the look” he’d always say, “Ok, two more minutes”  when he did that it made me feel so important even though I know he was probably so ready to be with my sister.  He’d take me on the back of his motorcycle and jump the  railroad tracks. I loved being with him it made me feel like I was really somebody. When he walked in a place everyone noticed because he was so handsome and strong. I always thought he was like a movie star. Kathy and Don were even a more beautiful couple. They loved and supported each other, truly  a union that my husband and I have used as a goal to achieve. 
I am so happy I was able to talk to him regularly still. I would call Kathy on my way home from work and she’d put me on speaker so we could all three catch up and tell each other about our lives, kids, grandkids, etc. Sometimes Kathy would say,”Don has his hand up” lol it was because it was hard to get a word in at times.  He would send music videos to me, he Loved good music.  And it’s a blessing that he was able to meet his newest grandchild, Nolan. In a video he sent of Nolan he said ,”listen close, I love the sound of Drew and Ryann laughing in the background.”🫶🏼 It’s all so heartbreaking. My spirit is crushed, but I find my peace in knowing that he knew Jesus and I will be giving him hugs in Heaven someday.

I meant to say bestboss ever not worse. Spell check got me

RIP DB. You were ok but not best boss by far

“My little Brother”, I would call him (because I was 7 years older) and I would receive that big, broad, beautiful smile and a famous “Don giggle” in return. Oh how I will miss those moments. 

I first met Don in ‘96 when I joined Schwab and we became instant friends. Strong, kind, generous, value-driven and hard-working he was…..not to mention his ability to inspire those who were fortunate to cross his path. Always thinking of his family and friends and shifting any praise he would receive to those around him so that WE all felt loved and valued.  Don is one of the most exceptional people I have ever been blessed to call friend in my lifetime. 

I turned 70 the day before he passed and, like clockwork, Don reached out to say “hi” and wish me a Happy Birthday.  After a quick chat to catch up, we closed the conversation as we always did…..”I love you, Brother”, “Love you too, Brother”.  

Those were our last spoken words together……and I am so grateful for that moment and all the other great moments and memories I shared with Don. 

Rest easy, Brother. You will live in our hearts forever.

I met Don in the early 80's. 
I Love him so, difficult to find words. 
 
Didn't matter what we were doing, it was always just nice to spend time with him.
Some of my favorite times were similar to Erics. Donny and I would work the parking lots until
2 in the morning. I would crash on Donny and Kathys couch, wake up early Saturday morning and hit the gym with Clete, Gordon
and the rest of the crew, then go run full court basketball for hours.  Big Donny could hit three's all day long, would go inside and down low
only if the game got close so we could hold the court. If we were playing  a game of basketball 21 against each other, I had to install the Donny rule meaning 
he could only hit three free throws in a row then take it out, otherwise he could hit 10 in a row and the game was over.

As you know he loved competition.

Donny, like all of us, didn't have any money and had to make it through college parking cars.
Donny always had a strong belief in himself. He worked hard and paid for his own education.
Went on to become VP of Schwab. Amazing. 

Kathy was his life. He, as you know, adored her, Luke and Drew. He was so proud of them and his new grandbabies.

His goal was to make sure they were all taken care of. 
Big Don, I watched you and was always amazed by your strength of character.
My mom and dad loved Kathy and Don. My whole family loved whenever they got to see them.
For years,  after my dad passed, we would drive out to Don and Kathys house to spend the weekend.
So, so many wonderful weekends. We would bring my mom.  Again, didn't matter what we were doing, it was just nice to spend time. 
I asked Donny to be my daughter's god father. My daughter Kendall loves her god father and aunt Kathy. 
I would always tell her,      your godfather Donny is the most decent, kind, strong, loving person I have ever known. 
Going to miss spending time with my brother Donny, love you

So many things left unsaid.  I'll have to say the words here, having faith that they'll reach you.
I spent this past weekend recounting many memories and looking at pictures.  I realized you were there for ALL my life milestones.  You were there when I found my soulmate.  You were there when I gave birth to Reilly.  You were there when I finally got that damn degree.  You were instrumental in me receiving my first organizational leadership role.  Other memories?  Your surprise 50th birthday party where you loudly protested but at the end of the party, you were so happy that all the people you loved celebrated with you.  The day you insisted showing our CEO the dozens of heels under my desk (to my utmost embarassment).  How you, Ben and Patrick would entertain me with your antics like you were the Three Stooges.  Keeping a secret when I won the Industry Leader award in SFO and beaming like a proud papa as I accepted it on stage.  How I had to bring dozens of pashmina/wraps to your leadership offsites because you would freeze all of us out.  How you taught me the travel goal of getting to the gate JUST as they were calling your boarding group (I've never missed a flight btw).  How you gave nicknames to all those on your team, which made us feel like family.  "J-Lo!"  I can still hear your voice resonate through the branch hallways.  And your "Don'isms"?   "My tea leaves tell me...."  "If you give something power, it becomes more powerful" "I may not always answer questions but I will always respond to them".
Some people leave a mark on your career.   A rare few leave a mark on who you become.  For 14 years, I had the privilege of working alongside you but for the past 25 years, I had the bigger privilege of calling you a friend.  
Love you to the moon and back, Eagle.  Until we meet again.

Kathleen and family,

I was deeply saddened to hear of Don’s passing. My heartfelt condolences are with all of you during this difficult time.
Don and I met in 2004 and he was so much more than a boss to me. He was a mentor, a trusted friend, and like a brother. He believed in me, invested in my growth, and played an enormous role in building my career in the Schwab branch network. I will always be grateful for his guidance, his encouragement, and the opportunities he gave me.

One of the things I’ll always smile about is how Don loved giving everyone nicknames. It was such a fun part of who he was. I still remember how excited all of us were when we finally found out that his nickname was “Eagle” and heard the story behind it. It was one of those classic Don moments that brought everyone together and reflected his wonderful sense of humor and the special culture he created around him.

After Don retired, I always looked forward to stopping by for lunch and catching up on life. Those visits meant a great deal to me. We’d talk about work, family, golf, and whatever else was going on, and I always left feeling better for having spent time with him.

I’ll also never forget riding with Don. The moment he got in the car, the first thing he’d do was crank the air conditioner up full blast. It always made me laugh because it was just so Don. It’s those little moments—the habits, the stories, the laughter—that I’ll remember just as much as the big milestones.

His impact on my life and the lives of so many others will never be forgotten. I will always cherish the memories, the laughs, the wisdom, and the friendship he shared with me.

Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

With deepest sympathy,

JC

Kathleen,

Sending my sincere condolences regarding Don’s passing. Don was a strong presence in my life for many years. Not only did he hire me into the best job I ever had at Schwab he mentored me to be ready when it came available. Outside of work, Don was incredibly supportive while I was going through my divorce. I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I was for that.

I’m so sorry for your loss.

Warm Regards,
Dave Tibbetts

Don will be missed ... he taught lots of us in the PX branch. He was always ready with a smile and encouragement; many times the encouragement was demonstrative ... :)    He cared and loved deeply about/with his friends a family.  Don was a leader at heart ...

Kathleen ,Drew ,Luke and family.

Robin and I are so sad just hearing this terrible news. If you need anything we are here for all of you. Don was always just a call away when I would reach out to him and although I could never coerce him to work more directly with me I kept trying. The one thing that was always consistent is that when he showed up at my door the day got better. That’s who he was and talking to him was good for the heart and soul. 

Everyone who knew Don could instantly see his love and devotion for his family and everything he did was for you. Although so sad today he knew how much he was loved and respected by all. That is a blessing reserved for only the very best. 

He will be missed but never forgotten.

My earliest memory of Don was during a trip to Phoenix so many years ago.  I was new to the role and wanted to visit some of my business partners.  Don agreed to meet me and navigate to the various partners.  What I didn’t realize was walking through the Peak with Don was like walking with the mayor.  The gentle giant was welcomed all over the Peak, not because of any reporting structure, rather they just enjoyed Don. Over the years as our friendship grew, we shared many conversations regarding work, life and now retirement.  During those conversations, we often spoke of family. Don’s love and devotion to Kathleen, Drew and Luke was ever present. I am going to desperately miss those conversations, and our annual breakfast in LaJolla!  God speed Don, I will miss you always my brother.

Don was such a warm and kind man…every time I saw him he was smiling and had wonderful stories to tell. And enjoyed every golf round we played together. I lived Atlanta, and he always made sure I felt welcomed when I came to Scottsdale to work.

Thoughts and prayers to the family.

David C Bell aka DCB to Don

Dear Kathleen,

I was deeply saddened to hear about Don’s passing. Looking back, it is hard to believe that 42 years have passed since we first became friends.

Being there to celebrate with you both at your wedding in Momence back in 1987 remains a truly special memory for me. Though that was the last time we were physically together, I am so grateful that Don and I stayed connected over all these years. Our phone calls a few times each year were always something I looked forward to, and he never failed to bring me up to speed with his warmth and humor.

Don was a remarkable person, and his presence will be missed terribly. Please know that you, Luke, Drew, and your entire family are in my prayers during this incredibly difficult time.

With my deepest and most profound condolences, we are all still in shock. I look at this photo periodically to remind me of the good times we had. Hope to see you again one day.

Don - You were one of the first faces that I grew accustomed to in Scottsdale branch life.  The discussions we had initially (& often) have served as a foundation for my career.  Those same discussions have served me well to this day.  You were never afraid of speaking your mind, and people did not always hear what they wanted to hear (myself included).  The advice was always solid.  We shared something in common.  We loved the art of annoying Jennifer Robinson.  We absolutely mastered that art.  You were a role model for so many......even for people who never met you.....because you live on in all of us that you impacted.  The world is a lesser place without you, and you will be in my thoughts going forward......forever.

Although I didn't have the privilege of knowing Don personally, hearing all the wonderful stories everyone shared made it clear what and incredible person he was. The laughter, the memories, and the admiration in everyone's voices showed just how deeply he touched the lives of those around him. Even as someone who only knew him through those stories, I could see the lasting impact he had on many of the people in our Schwab family. My heart is with his family during this very difficult time. I hope they can find a little comfort in knowing how many lives he touched, how deeply he was respected, and how fondly he'll always be remembered.

Donny is one of the nicest, family and goal oriented people I've ever met. Don found me when I was going through one of the inflection points of my life - just having moved to Arizona, and trying to figure out how to be a good man, husband and professional. I still remember the day I met Don in September 2017. The warmth and joy coming from him was infectious, and I remember him, Todd and Brian interviewing me for the Tucson role. I remember how much he cared for those he took in. How he took me to the gym with him, taught me hard lessons both physically in the gym and mentally as a man. He changed my life in a multitude of ways. He was a father figure and has connected me with so many GREAT people. I'll miss his laugh, his hugs, and both of our loves for extremely cold rooms. You'll never be forgotten, big fella. Miss you forever.

Don, I’m grateful for having you in my life. As a mentor, leader, father figure and friend, you were always there to share wisdom about life, family and work, that I’ll never forget.  We were both from small, Illinois farm towns and carried the burden of being Cubs, Bears and Bulls fans, which bonded us quickly, but our relationship deepened over time and you positively influenced my life in so many ways. I’m thankful we communicated recently and got to see photos of your new grandson and that I was able to share with you that Britt and I are expecting our first daughter in December. You inspired me to be a great leader, husband and father. Your impact on me and so many others will never be forgotten. I miss you dearly and I’ll love you forever.

Dearest Kathy, Luke & Drew!
We are sooooo deeply saddened by the pass of Donny! He was one of the most dearest, kindest and gentlest of souls!!!! One of our family, the Starks Closest and Dearest  family friends! Tried and True over all too short of years now!!!!
Donny  was Truly so Near to Ken's heart!

All the Rembis' kids remember him and your family with deep fondness!!!! Happy memories! 
Mike & I were blessed by both you and Donny !
RIP gentle giant of a man!
Love you Kathy!
Mike & Kris

One of the greatest gifts of knowing you was the conversations we shared during our early morning runs while traveling for work. As the sun came up and world was still quiet, we talked about everything, from work challenges and career aspirations to family, life and the moments that mattered most. Those miles together were never just exercise - but a place to celebrate success, work through disappointment, laugh and learn from one another. I left every run a little wiser, more confident, and inspired to be a better person. Your encouragement and friendship shaped my own journey in ways I will always carry with me. I am grateful for every sunrise we shared and every conversation that made me better. You will be deeply missed and forever loved.

My mentor. My idol. Don was everything I wanted to be as businessman, a husband, and a father. The bar he set was way too high. Dapper Don. I love you big fella and will miss you every day of the rest of my life. I will also say a thank you prayer for every day you were in my life. Love you beyond words big brother!!!!!

First, I must give my condolences to Kathleen,  Luke and Drew and to all their extended family and friends out West. I was fortunate to spend time with Don out in Palm Springs working the lots at Cecils and Zeldas in the late 80s.  But it was our friendship growing up in rural Momence that is etched forever in my memory.  Our childhood was everything that TV and the movies depict today.  Our childhood friendship began in the late 60s and ran through high school during the 70s and early 80s.  My earliest memories include playing cowboys and Indians with as many neighborhood friends as we could get, and then evolving into sandlot baseball and football games. Sometimes those games lasted all day until we couldn't see the ball anymore. As we grew older, many of us would venture off and hike along railroad tracks until we made it to a creek where we would swim or wade until we got caught by the property owners and they ran us off. It always became a challenge to see how far we could go. Like so many our age, we became fascinated with a man name Evel Knievel. Don lived on an alley, so it was the go to spot for all the subdivision kids to try their best at jumping as many garbage cans as possible.  There were a lot of scars and a few broken arms. Eventually,  sports became more organized and we played Little League and school basketball.  Basketball was a nightly ritual at Don's house. We would play well into the night with only yard lights illuminating the basket. Some of those early hiking trails became our dirt bike trails, and we would ride all over the country side. Sometimes we still thought we were Evel Knievel. This time I ended up in the hospital 🤕.By the time we reached high school, sports became more serious and our attention moved towards other things that weren't always school related 😉. But it was always a great time. Donny "Eagle" I'm going to miss you, and it pains me that I'll never be able to say good bye.  Love and miss you brother. 
Moosehead

I had the pleasure of working with Don at Schwab for close to 27 years.  I always enjoyed our conversations and visits, I am in Dallas.  .We talked about our families, hobbies and of course work.  I always felt like he was more of a friend than just a coworker.
He was a kind man, and will be missed.

I am so sorry for your Loss, My sincere condolences and prayers to his beautiful Family.

Lanna Raymond

OBITUARY

Donald Henry Bakhaus

July 18, 1963 – June 24, 2026

Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery

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