Donald Lyle Holzschuh's Obituary
Loving husband and father, Donald Lyle Holzschuh, 94, of Richardson, Texas, passed away on January 23, 2015. Don was born March 4, 1920. He grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota and as a youngster, enjoyed building mechanical and electrical things as well as biking and iceboat sailing. In 1938, he graduated from West High School in Minneapolis then attended the University of Minnesota for two years before joining the Northern Ordnance Factory; building 5” antiaircraft gun mounts for the Navy. In 1943, Don was accepted into the U.S. Army Air Corps where he trained as a pilot and became a B-29 flight engineer. Discharged in 1946, he resumed his mechanical engineering studies and graduated from the University of Minnesota in December 1948. The following spring, he joined Collins Radio Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he spent the next 22 years designing antenna structures and other electro-mechanical devices including hardened antennas for the Atlas, Titan and Minuteman missile bases, and rotatable HF antennas that are still used worldwide today. He received eight patents for original ideas utilized on antennas. Don retired from Collins Radio in 1971 and went to work for ESI (Electrospace Systems, Inc.), where he continued to work as an engineer for the next 18 years before retiring in 1990. He retained his Professional Engineer License and stayed active engineering signs for his youngest son’s sign business. In addition to engineering, Don was also a commercial photographer, contributing covers to two trade magazines as well as covering all photography for ESI. In 1952, Don met the love of his life, Ruth, and they were married in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They moved to Richardson, Texas in 1961 and raised three handsome sons together. An avid golfer, Don played once a week for most of his adult life. He was an active participant in his sons’ Boy Scout troop and a member of First United Methodist Church in Richardson. Don was known for his great sense of humor and boisterous laugh, and felt blessed by all his friends and family who loved and cherished him. Survivors include his wife Ruth Ellen; his sons, David Donald of Corpus Christi, and Daniel John and his wife Keri of Lewisville; his grandchildren, Emily Kate, Andrew Quinton and his wife Kristen, and Kristin Marie; his great-grandchild Bridgette; as well as many dear friends, neighbors and loved ones. Donald is preceded in death by his oldest son, Douglas Richard of Richardson, who died in 2003. A service to celebrate Don’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 31, 2015, at Restland’s Wildwood Chapel in Dallas. A reception is to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation in Don’s name be made to the Boy Scouts of America.
What’s your fondest memory of Donald?
What’s a lesson you learned from Donald?
Share a story where Donald's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Donald you’ll never forget.
How did Donald make you smile?