Donald Stephen Shacklette

Donald “Steve” Stephen Shacklette, 74, passed away unexpectedly on October 31, 2018. Donald was born in Neodesha, Kansas to Jesse B. and Lillie Edna Shacklette, in August of 1944.  He was the youngest of 4 children. Don began his long military career by joining the Navy in 1963, but was Honorably Discharged in September, 1965 at which time he enlisted in the US Army Reserves and attended Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas.  He earned a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, completed his ROTC training and was a multi-medaled member of the Persking Rifles while in attendance. In August of 1967, he married Martha Waite and continued his amazing military career. He was Honorably Discharged from the Reserves in January, 1968 so that he could be appointed as an Officer in the US Army.  In 1968, Don reported for Active Duty in Fort Sill, Oklahoma where he completed his Field Artillery Officers Basic Course. Don received his orders for Vietnam in July, 1969 where he served his country Honorably with courage, strength and truth and came home in 1971 with scars that were not limited to those on the skin. Don served until November, 1979 as a commissioned officer in Field Artillery. In 1983, Don re-enlisted with the Colorado National Guard.  He was also a full time employee at Martin Marietta (now Lockheed Martin) as a photographer and was instrumental in the development of some of the technologies for photo and video capturing with the NASA Space Program. At the end of his “working” career, Don was the owner of Aerial Photo Services, a job he enjoyed doing (especially when he got to fly!) In his personal life, Don enjoyed family genealogy and has collected and complied a history of the Shacklette and Waite families going back to the 1300’s.

Don was preceded in death by his wife, Martha, brother Elmer, sister’s Helen Zizi (Shacklette) and Betty-Lou Krause (Shacklette) and Brother-in-Law’s Frank Krause, Michael Waite and Father-in-Law Robert Wait.

He is survived by his son Warren, daughter Meagan, grandchildren Caden, Chloe and Cianna, Brother-in-Law John Waite, nephews Zeke Krause, Bill Waite and nieces Holly Rupp (Waite) and Jamie Charest (Waite) along with many grand-nephews and grand-nieces. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Funeral Services will be held on November 19th at 11:30 am at Drinkwine Mortuary located at 999 W. Littleton Blvd.  Littleton, CO. Interment will take place at Fort Logan National Cemetery immediately following the funeral.

**Please join the family for some food and drink in a Celebration of Don's Life at the Falls Event Center located at;
8199 Southpark Court
Littleton, CO 80120

If preferred, donations to the American Cancer Society or Breast Cancer Research (Susan G. Komen) are greatly appreciated.

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