Donald Lee Caldwell passed away on July 15, 2017 at his home in Hermiston after a long, hard battle with pulmonary fibrosis.
Don was born on Aug. 20, 1945 in Raymond, Wash. to Lee and Edith Emerson Caldwell.
He lived in South Bend, Wash. as a child, where he graduated from high school in the class of 1963. After high school, he enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed abroad and served four years. He then moved to Washington, D.C. for a short time before moving to Hillsboro. While living in Hillsboro, he worked at a service station and then began working for the city wastewater treatment plant. With a fulltime job and family, he attended Clackamas Community College, receiving his associates degree.
In 1974, he moved to Hermiston to become the superintendent of the wastewater treatment plant. Among his biggest accomplishments were assisting in upgrading the city’s wastewater treatment system, and his vision of relocating the plant to its current location in the early 1980s to keep up with the growth of the city of Hermiston. In 1993, he took a position with the Department of Environmental Quality and oversaw the eastern region. He lived in Pendleton for a short time before moving to John Day in 1997, where he worked as the public works director until his retirement in 2000. He moved back to Hermiston from John Day in 2016.
Don enjoyed buying and selling antiques and collectibles and started a business called Grandkids Inheritance. He was known as Dealin’ Don to many associates at estate sales and auctions. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping and was an avid poker player. He cherished his family, and his grandchildren were his pride and joy. He enjoyed attending their activities and sporting events.
He was involved with many community organizations: president of the Hermiston Band Boosters, assisting in raising money for the band to travel to Europe; member of the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association, receiving the William D. Hatfield Award for outstanding performance and professionalism in 1988; John Day city council member from 2002 through 2014; actively involved in the Grant County Senior Center in John Day; member of the Elks Lodge for 44 years; and member of the Eagles Lodge.
He married JoAn Arnold in Hinsdale, Mont. on Aug. 1, 1967, and from this marriage sons Jeff and David were born. The couple divorced many years later. Don married Carolyn Mayden on Dec. 7, 1997 in Walla Walla, Wash.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn of Hermiston; sons, Jeff Caldwell and wife Nancy, and David Caldwell and wife Brenda; grandchildren, Dylan, Kaden, Jaclyn and Kyle; sisters, Dorothy Heater and Diane Hull; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Delores Brown; and brother, Dale Caldwell.
Viewing will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, July 20, 2017 at Burns Mortuary Chapel.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 21, 2017 at Burns Mortuary Chapel.
Burial with military honors will follow in Hermiston Cemetery. A reception will follow the graveside service.
Memorial donations can be sent to Shriners Hospital at shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.
To leave an online condolence for the family, go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
