Wayne McDonald (1930-2023)
October 31, 1930 – June 18, 2023
Castle Rock, CO – Wayne McDonald was born in Boise, Idaho on October 31st, 1930. He passed away in Castle Rock, Colorado with family and friends nearby, on Sunday, June 18th, 2023 (Father’s Day) at the age of 92 years old.
Wayne was the son of William and Ellen McDonald and the sibling of four sisters and seven brothers, five of which served our country in World War II. Wayne graduated from Boise High School in 1949. He went to work for Albertson Food Stores at the age of 17 as a meat cutter and soon was running a store in Meridian, Idaho where he met his soon-to-be wife, Gloria Evans. They were married on May 9th, 1952, during his time of military service in the Korean War, in which he served as a Sergeant in the Army from March 6th, 1951 to January 22nd, 1954.
Once he returned from the war, he went back to work for Albertsons in Idaho, then helped expand the company throughout the Western United States. He held several positions, including Vice President of Meat Operations during his 40-year tenure with the company. He retired in Seattle, Washington. That is when the fun began as he and his wife Gloria of 55 years traveled across the world, visiting family and friends and fishing along the Oregon Coast. Wayne loved life and storytelling! He always had a great story to tell and was quite a history buff as well.
He was a loving husband, father and friend to all. Wayne and his wife, Gloria served as a “host family” for students that were from Thailand studying at the University of Washington for over eight years during their time in Seattle and those relationships continued throughout his life. Later in his years he met Donna Church in Arizona, and they spent seven years together. They split their time mainly between Bullhead City, Arizona and Alaska, with Donna’s family. Wayne saw the good in all and was always there to help someone in need. It did not matter if they were family or a stranger. He had a way of making everyone he met feel special and important.
Wayne is survived by his children Rodney McDonald, Cheryl Kallstrom, Douglas McDonald and his son-in-law, Todd Kallstrom. He is also survived by his granddaughters, Tanya Vera, Megan Colmenares and her husband JC Colmenares and Serena McDonald-Elf and her husband Steve Elf. He also has three great grandchildren, Manny Vera, Gabriella Vera and Marisol Elf.
He is also survived by his extended family in Alaska, Steve Chmielowski, Katrina Church-Chmielowski and their children Gerek, Celia and Mathias. Along with Jo and Dale Hicks, Julia Ellis and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and many wonderful loving friends and family members.
Memorial and celebration trips are planned for Wayne. Please join us in Boise, Idaho on July 27th, 2023 at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery located at 10100 North Horseshoe Blvd Road, Boise, Idaho 83714 for a service and scattering at 1:00pm. Please arrive 20 minutes early for this service. A celebration and get-together will be held at Alpine Pizza Restaurant located at 7330 W State Street, Boise, Idaho 83714 at approximately 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
A celebration of Wayne’s life will also be held with family and friends in the Seattle area on July 29th, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00pm at Confluence Park located at 655 Rainier Blvd North, Issaquah, Washington, 98027.