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Donald Lee Marquardt, age 82, was born in Billings, Okla., on May 19, 1937, and passed away at Baylor Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Texas, after battling cancer for several years. Donald entered the pearly gates of Heaven on Oct. 15, 2019, to be met by his father (Alfred George Marquardt) and his mother (Evelyn Blanche (Olbert) Marquardt), his grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other family members and friends like Ronnie Curtis.
Donald graduated from Hayward High School (Hayward, Okla.) in 1956 and served as the president of the Hayward Alumni Association for several years. He graduated from Central Texas College (Killeen, Texas) with different associate degrees in applied science in 1983, 1984 and 1985.
Donald was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1960 and served tours of duty in Vietnam; Okinawa; Berlin, Babenhausen and Frankfurt, Germany; El Paso and Fort Hood, Texas; and Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Donald retired with Honors as a master sergeant E-8 in 1980 after serving 20 years, two months. Donald retired with several military medals to include the Bronze Star Medal and was a 100% service-connected veteran.
Before entering the military, Donald worked in the oil field and as an auto mechanic with Ford Motor Company in Perry, Okla. As a child, he went hunting and fishing with his pet dog and goat. He spent his early years playing with his sister cousin, Barbara, building wagons with motors and other exciting childhood inventions and driving a Hayward school bus in his senior year of high school. Donald had a passion for cars and motorcycles. He rebuilt several fancy sports cars and always named his vehicles like Midnight Flyer and Wild Child. Donald loved his many friends and enjoyed exercising at the YMCA and at Baylor Scott and White Rehab Center.
After retiring, Donald maintained an active role of serving veterans in the states of Texas and Oklahoma. He served as VFW Post 8577 commander in Copperas Cove, Texas; vice commander of American Legion Post 349 in Copperas Cove, lifetime member and chaplain of DAV Chapter 66 in Copperas Cove, president of Chapter 37 of The Retired Enlisted Association in Enid, Okla.; charter board member, Garfield County Veterans Association; president, Copperas Cove Crime Stoppers Association and president of Garfield County Crime Stoppers in Enid, Okla. He volunteered as a veterans services officer at Vance AFB in Enid, Okla.; a board member of the state of Oklahoma Veterans Council; a board member of the state of Oklahoma State Crime Stoppers Association. Donald also chaired the city of Enid Historic Preservation Commission and was charter vice president of Round Rock Preservation.
Donald is survived by the love of his life, his wife (Shirley Marie (Jack) Marquardt) of 59 years; by his beautiful and talented daughter (Shirley Marie Marquardt II-Tynan), who was born on Donald's birthday; his caring son-in-law (David Whitehill Tynan); and two wonderful grandchildren (Stephen Christopher Marquardt Tynan, who recently graduated from the University of Denver) and Sarah Ryan Marquardt Tynan (who is a junior at Savannah Art and Design College in Georgia and who won a blue ribbon last week on her 21st birthday competing on the college school's equestrian team).
Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made in Donald's Honor to Round Rock Preservation, EIN: 81-2339800, to help restore the city of Round Rock's Historic Stagecoach Inn. Beck Funeral Home, 15709 Ranch Rd 620 N, Austin, TX 78717, will be accepting the memorial contributions.
Funeral Service will be Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, 10 a.m., Beck Round Rock Funeral Home Chapel (15709 Ranch Road 620 North, Austin TX 78717 (telephone (512) 244-3772) followed by a short ceremony at the Central Texas State Veteran Cemetery, Oct. 21, 2019, at 3 p.m. (11463 State Hwy. 195, Killeen TX 76542-4945 (254) 616-1770).
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