Don Mestnik

Don Mestnik was born in Maple Heights, Ohio on June 19th, 1934, and was the oldest child of Alberta and Steve Mestnik. He is survived by his wife Marilyn, and his four children Lynn (Lance) Johnson Jim (Kathy) Mestnik, Tom Mestnik and Beth (Warren) Press, and his sister Nancy Garrison. 

He grew up outside Cleveland, Ohio graduating from Maple Heights High School in 1952, where his athletic skill and passion for basketball and baseball were apparent. He graduated from Ohio University, where he was an active member of the Phi Kappa fraternity and where he met his future wife of 66 years, Marilyn Clark on a blind date. 

After graduating in 1957, he entered the army and received training at Fort Riley in Kansas. He served in Mainz, Germany and was promoted to Army Specialist 4 in the 8th Division Infantry. He was assigned as a Company Clerk but was sought after to play baseball throughout Germany against other armed services teams. Marilyn flew over to Germany upon her college graduation. They were married in Switzerland on June 23rd, 1958 with a Catholic ceremony following on June 26th in Mainz, Germany. They had four children in the next nine years.

Returning to Ohio, Don was employed at General Motors. He started as an accountant, but his outgoing personality made it clear he would be successful working in sales. Don easily moved to the sales department at Terex, selling large earth moving equipment. He was promoted to District Sales Manager which moved him from Ohio to beautiful Colorado. Eventually, the Terex Division was closed, and Don became the Business Manager for St. Thomas More Catholic Church. He helped Father Fred McCallin manage not only the church affairs but the church's business, restaurant and its community events. Don and Father McCallin became very close friends, with Don driving him to California when he retired. Don was always active in the church, serving as an Usher and a Lector. Don was a member of the Knights of Columbus and most importantly was a leading fundraiser for the Little Sisters of the Poor. 

Don took advantage of all the wonderful experiences Colorado offers. From hiking fourteener mountains to going to Mile High Stadium and Coors Field to cheer on his favorite teams, running 10K races or skiing. He loved living here with all his heart.

The only thing Don loved more was his family. He supported his children in every endeavor and had his own unique relationship with each of his nine grandchildren, Greg (Laura), Kyle (Leigh), Brett Johnson, Matt Peiffer, Rachel (Aviv), BJ (Hobbs), Justin (Holli), Mestnik, Sammy (Mike) Swanson and Natalie and Solomon Press. He was even lucky enough to meet three great grandchildren Elias Mestnik, Ava Johnson, and Thomas Swanson. As he got older, he was quite happy sitting on his back porch listening to the Rockies on the radio or playing a game of golf with his friends. 

Donald Edward Mestnik passed away from complications of Alzheimer's disease on February 16th, 2025 at ninety years of age.

"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." AA Milne. 

To honor Don's legacy donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association www.Alz.org or ALL IN Empowering Futures www.allinempoweringfutures.org.