MSGT Donald F. Krietemeyer, Sr., of Fort Smith passed away on Thursday, December 14, 2017 in a local hospital. He suffered a stroke and cardiac arrest on Monday, December 4, 2017. Don was born at home in Vanderburgh County, near Evansville, Indiana. He worked as a teenager sacking groceries. Then he worked at a furniture manufacturing plant; He joined the Army National Guard. He was called to active duty in October 1961 during the Cuban Crisis. He was a Platoon Sergeant with the 100th Infantry Training Division, U.S. Army National Guard. He married Barbara Osborne in June 1962 and his active duty ended in October 1963. He held several jobs at local manufacturing plants, including Ohio Rubber and Whirlpool. He moved his family to San Antonio, Texas in 1964 and returned to Fort Smith in 1969. He worked at Rheem as a Class A die setter. He then accepted a full time position with the 188th Fighter TAC Group, Arkansas Air National Guard and worked as Fuel Technician for military airplanes. He retired in 1998 at age 60. Don started mowing yards several years before he retired. He was friendly and had lots of customers. He used the extra money to help his son go to the University of Arkansas, who later joined the U.S. Army and became a CWO as second officer on U.S. Army transport boats. Don’s health began to fail in 1996 with back surgery and in 2007 with open heart surgery. With help of great doctors and answered prayers of friends and family he had several good years. The past three years were difficult for him. He was preceded in death by his father Christ Krietemeyer, his mother Mathilda (Kracht) Krietemeyer, one sister, Ruth Krietemeyer Bittner; two brothers, Raymond “Bud” Krietemeyer, and George Krietemeyer, one nephew, Ronnie Krietemeyer.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara of 55 years; one son Donald Krietemeyer, Jr., and wife Mollie; one daughter Karla L. Krietemeyer of the home; a grandson Lance Krietemeyer and wife Mirielle; two grandsons, Alex Krietemeyer and Shannon Long, one granddaughter, Kelsey (Krietemeyer) Sawin and husband Justin; brother in laws, Boyd and Debbie Osborne; Carolyn and Larry Jones; Phillip and Stephanie Osborne and all their families. He also had many close friends of First Lutheran Church, Fort Smith, Trinity Lutheran Church, Darmstadt, Indiana and the members of the Arkansas Air National Guard at Fort Smith.

Funeral Service will be at 9:30 A.M. Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at First Lutheran Church, 1115 North D Street, Fort Smith with burial at the U.S. National Cemetery with full military honors under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home in Van Buren.

The family will visit with friends and relatives Monday, December 18, 2017 from 2:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Ocker Funeral Chapel 700 Jefferson Street, Van Buren, Arkansas.

Pallbearers will be Boyd Osborne, Larry Jones, Philip Osborne, Lance Krietemeyer, Alex Krietemeyer, Justin Sawin, Richard Watson and Major Jim Olienyk.

Honorary pallbearers will be Lou Fellwock, Jerry Korff, Kurt Griesse and Wade Hickman.

Memorials may be made to the First Lutheran Church Capital Repair Campaign, 1115 North D Street Fort Smith, 72901.

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