April 9, 1938 - August 19, 2017
Donald (Don) Salfrank, 79, of Country Club and formerly of Gower and Forest City, passed away after a battle with cancer on Saturday, August 19, 2017, at his home in Country Club Village. He was born April 9, 1938 to Carl and Dorothy (Lawless) Salfrank at his family's home near Rock Port, MO. He married Margaret Snider on September 6, 1959 in Forest City, MO and she survives of the home.
Don graduated from Belvue High School near Mound City, MO in 1956, and then attended the University of Missouri in Columbia.
He worked at Swift & Company, St. Joseph, MO, as a meat cutter for seven years. Don earned his Aircraft and Power license ("A&P") and was a sheet metal mechanic for Trans World Airlines, Kansas City, retiring in 1991 after 25 years of service. A farmer at heart, he enjoyed no-till farming for the next ten years.
When others their age were retiring, Don and Margaret started new careers with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Beginning in 2003, Don worked as a mitigation counselor for FEMA for more than twelve years.
Don is survived by his wife, Margaret; two sons, John (Michell) Salfrank of Savannah, and Steven (Heather) Salfrank of Platte City; three daughters, Donna (Jim) Gibson of Gower, Linda Salfrank of St. Joseph, and Ramona (Mike) Steele of St. Joseph; one sister, Barbara Freeman of St. Joseph; fifteen grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Byron Salfrank; son-in-law, Matt Davis, and grandson, Dustin Bentley.
A memorial celebration of life will be Thursday August 24, 2017 at 3:00pm at Breit-Hawkins Funeral Home in Savannah. Visitation and family receiving hours will be Thursday August 24, 2017 from 2:00-3:00pm at Breit-Hawkins Funeral Home in Savannah. Memorial donations may be made to Mosaic Cancer Center Fund.