Donald Ray Nestegard

Obituary Donald Ray Nestegard was born October 24th 1945 to Fritz and Mary Nestegard at Puyallup General Hospital in Puyallup, Washington. He was a long time Fircrest resident spending most of his life living in his house on Contra Costa Avenue, while he attended Wainwright Elementary, Hunt Jr. High, and Wilson High School. He met his future wife Marge (Mudge) Faron in 1962 at the age of 17 in the same house, they dated for 2 years until 1964 when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Don served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1966 during which he mailed home a ring for Marge asking her to marry him, he returned in August and just a week later he and Marge married on August 6th. A year later they had their first child Donald ‘R' Nestegard on June 12th 1967 followed by their daughter Kelly Lee Nestegard on September 30th 1968, that same year Don was discharged from the United States Marine Corps, Shortly after being discharged he began working for Island Empire Telephone Company (later changed to Centurytel) where he would work for the next 40 years until his retirement in 2008. During that time he had 5 grandchildren Alicia Potter (1992), Sydney Potter (1995), Colin Nestegard (1998), Jordyn Nestegard (2002), and Morgan Potter (2005). Despite saying otherwise Don was an animal lover, he had many cats and dogs throughout his life he also once had a duck and a rabbit. His most recent companions were his 16 year old deaf tabby cat Loco, his little black and white dog Bimbi, and the hummingbirds he fed in his backyard. Don also loved camping, fishing, and boat rides which he did often with his family and friends. He liked to go for "walks" (drink coffee) in the mall and have lunch at the hospital (he enjoyed the food), he had periods of interest in photography, enjoyed country music, Scrabble (but would make you play until he won), and spending time with his family. Donald Nestegard was an incredible man, a devoted husband, a loving father, a beloved grandfather, and an irreplaceable friend. He passed away Sept. 18th 2017 at the age of 71 from non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer, he was surrounded by his family who misses him more everyday. He is survived by his wife Marge (Mudge) Nestegard, his children Don Nestegard (Mika) and Kelly Potter, his sister Janet Asbjornsen (Jerry), his sister-in-law Trish Smith, his grandchildren Colin Nestegard, Jordyn Nestegard, Alicia Buchmann (Alex), Sydney Potter, and Morgan Potter, as well as many nieces, nephews, friends and loved ones. A memorial service will be held Saturday Sept. 30th at 11am, at Gaffney Funeral Home 1002 South Yakima Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405, dress casually as Don didn't care for formal dress. In lieu of flowers please consider making donations to his family's Relay For Life Team "Answer To Cancer" where all proceeds go to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home