Donald Puder

Donald Wayne Puder, Ph.D., 80, residing at Bridgeview, passed away quietly in his sleep Jan. 1, 2015, in Twin Falls, Idaho, after an extended illness.

Donald was born July 29, 1934, in Keokuk, Iowa, as the only child of Lorenzo D. and Elizabeth L. (Wolfe) Puder.

He grew up near the Missouri River and enjoyed fishing and hunting with his father. He graduated from Keokuk High School in 1952. As his parents stressed and fully supported his education, he went to Carthage College, Carthage, Ill., completing his BAA degree in education in 1956 and became a teacher.

Shortly after college he went on a blind date with his best friend where he met Evelyn K. Fairchild, his future wife. He and Evelyn were married June 9, 1957, and they started their lives together.

Don entered the U.S. Army that same year and was stationed in Fort Riley, Kan., where his twin daughters were born. He was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, known as "The Big Red One," where he served in the Medical Corps.

Upon his release from active duty, he continued his teaching career at various places like Iowa, Colorado, Arizona, California (where two more daughters were born one year apart), Oregon, Hawaii, and finally settled in Idaho.

During summer breaks from teaching, he often served as a forest ranger at several different national monuments and forests.

In 1974, Don and Evelyn were surprised by the arrival of their first son on New Year's Day. Then, in 1976, their second son was born.

In 1968, he became a professor at the recently established College of Southern Idaho in the science department. He continued in the science program at CSI, working his way up and becoming head of the science department, a position he held until his retirement in 1997. During his tenure as a professor at CSI, he continued his personal education, culminating in receiving his doctorate in 1990.

Since his retirement, Don thoroughly enjoyed when he would run into many of his students that had attended his classes and they would bring him up to speed on their lives and how his classes helped them reach their degrees and better their lives.

Church was an integral part of Don's life. He loved teaching the Word of Jesus and playing music. He met many life-long friends through fellowship over the years at many churches. He was last a member of First Southern Baptist Church of Twin Falls.

Don enjoyed baseball, hunting and fishing, camping, traveling with his children and gardening with his wife.

Don and Evelyn celebrated their 50th anniversary in June of 2007 with extended family and many friends.

He is survived by his daughters, Carol (James) Steelsmith, Cheryl (Mark) Marks, Mountain Home, ID; Tina (Mike) Dingman, Las Vegas, Nev.; Donna Jacobsen, Great Falls, Mont.; and sons James Puder, Dover, Ohio, and John Puder, Twin Falls, ID, along with nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn, his parents and a granddaughter.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, Jan. 10, at 2 p.m. at Parke's Funeral Home in Twin Falls, ID.