Donald Arthur Kaae

Surrounded by family, our Father and Grandfather Donald Arthur Kaae passed away on Saturday, October 7th, 2017 in Medford, Oregon due to complications from pneumonia. Don, a resident of Siskiyou County, was a quiet yet dedicated community member. Always intelligent, generous and responsible, he cared for the welfare of his family and those he loved. A Masonic Funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at the Howard Masonic Lodge, 3rd St., Yreka, CA, where all are welcome to attend. A lunch will follow at the lodge to celebrate Don’s life. Don was born in Los Angeles, CA on November 23, 1930. His parents were Helen Irene (Smith) Kaae and George F. Kaae. Don was the older brother to Ruth (Kaae) Summers and Jon Kaae. He spent his childhood in Tigard, Oregon where he attended elementary and high school. He joined the Navy Reserve while in high school, then went active from 1950 to 1952 where he was stationed at Miramar. While in the Navy, Don married Loretta Prescott in San Diego in 1950. After the Navy, Don worked days at Safeway in San Francisco to support his family while he attended Heald Engineering School at night. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. Don and Loretta had 4 children and later divorced. While managing a construction project in San Diego, Don met the love of his life, Betty Ann. Don and Betty Ann snuck away on their lunch break and married on December 7, 1971. Announcing their union to their children at dinner that night blending their families into one. The family had many adventures over the years traveling and living in a variety of places due to Don’s work projects. Guy F. Atkinson Company employed Don as a Civil Engineer for the majority of his career. A few of his notable projects were the US/Mexican Border in San Diego, Highway 4 project in Concord, California, and multiple projects in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where Don was the General Manger for TAFCO. He was known internationally as the best in the world at what he did. After ten years in Saudi Arabia, Don “retired” and built his dream ranch in Weed, where he raised registered Angus Cattle under the KaaeKrest herd name. Over the years Don held multiple stations within Masonic organizations in Saudi Arabia, Brentwood, CA and Siskiyou County. He was recently recognized as a fifty-year member with the Masons. Don enjoyed his annual hunting trips to Wyoming, duck hunting, deep-sea fishing, spending time traveling and reading. In recent years, his spring schedule evolved around his favorite sport team, the San Francisco Giants. When he was a younger man he would sit on the hill above Candlestick Park just to watch the games. He recently concluded his second session of service with the Siskiyou County Grand Jury and was currently President of the Howard Lodge Scottish Rite. Don is survived by his children, Maryann Kaae-Munson and her husband Cliff, Karen and her husband Bill, Kathy Kaae and her partner David Wiles, Kyle Kaae and his wife Desiree, Keith Kaae. Grandchildren; Melissa, Matthew, Jerrod Pehle, Kyle Fournier, Brooke Eastman, Ryan Pehle, Taylor Munson, Jordan Munson, Peter Lewis, Preston Munson, Hayden Kaae, Hayley Kaae, Shelby Kaae, Lauren Kaae, Robert Kilbreath , and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, wife Betty Ann and his daughter Diane Kaae. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Don’s name to the Howard Masonic Lodge, Building Fund, P.O. Box 1498, Yreka, CA 96097.

Donald Arthur Kaae

November 23, 1930 - October 7, 2017