Donald Joe Cole

Donald Joe Cole, 82, of Lakewood, Colorado, passed away at home on May 21, 2015. Joe was born November 16, 1932 in Laramie, WY. He was a devoted husband to his loving wife of 61 years, Donna Elizabeth Gabrielson Cole, and a proud father to his daughters Suzanne Elizabeth Cole-Rice (Robert Rice) and Jennifer Jo Cole (William Maguire). He is also survived by his sister Glenna Jean Powell and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Joe graduated from the University of Wyoming Preparatory School and the University of Wyoming (1954) with a degree in Industrial Arts Education. He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army Ordnance Corp upon graduation and entered service in September that year. He retired from the Army in 1976 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was a Vietnam Veteran and he served in New Dehli, India at the US Embassy. He took his family to his posts in France and Germany, as well as numerous stateside locations. Joe's hobbies included fine woodworking, gardening, landscaping, reading mysteries and suspense novels, and planning his and Donna's many trips including attendance at about 35 Elderhostels. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a Founding Sponsor of the National Museum of the US Army. He belonged to the University of Wyoming Alumni Association and the Military Officers Association of America. In past years, he was a trail maintenance volunteer for Jefferson County Open Space, an active square dancer, and a huge supporter of his daughters' many activities. He enjoyed camping, hunting, and fishing. Services and burial of ashes will be held in Laramie, Wyoming this summer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Joe's name to either the National Museum of the US Army at theNMUSA.org or the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org.