Donald Voelker

I was so sad reading about Don's passing. I was really looking forward to seeing him again this July. After reading what others have posted, it's clear Don treated everyone he met like family. Don was so passionate about drum corp. He motivated me to be better. A memory I'll never forget is he and i played horns for a local special olympics competition. We only knew the fist 4 bars of the olympic theme so we repeated it over and over and over. The other was Don saying "blood makes the grass grow" as we took field for every drum corps competition. This is a tough loss. Will do everything i can to make this a celebration of his life - I'm sure that's what he would want.

I marched with him in Crossmen, he always lifted me up and was such a positive man. May God be with you. He helped me and was a great man. 🙏

Don has been our neighbor for the past 5 years. I often described him as the guy from Tim Allen’s show Home Improvement who always was popping his head over the fence. He was always willing to lend a tool to help us upkeep our yard. My family will miss him tossing loaves of Kay’s pumpkin bread over the fence. Grateful to have such a great neighbor all these years.

Don and I were neighbors when my family first moved to Saginaw in 1965. We met up again when I went to my first drum corps rehearsal in 1974. Don remembered me and he actually taught mecthe basics of how to play a rotor valve bugle. My family moved to Florida so we lost touch until 1978 when we met up again on tour. I was in the Spirit of Atlanta and he was with The Crossmen. We would make a point of meeting up when we were at the same shows. In '78 we sat in the stands together finals before we had to do retreat. In 1980, when our horn instructor was killed in an accident on the road, when Crossmen arrived at the site, I told Don about it and her informed the director. Don was a kind person and will be missed.

To Danny: I'm so sad for you and the whole family at the passing of your brother Donald. I shall be remembering your entire family in prayer. May the Lord comfort you during this season of loss. David Griffore (Bossier City Louisiana)