Donald R. Burton

Donald R. Burton of Bullhead City, Arizona, formerly of St. Joseph, died peacefully at his home September 16th, 2006 with his loving family beside him after a fifteen year battle with leukemia. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 P.M. Saturday, September 23 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. George Fleming officiating. Memorials may be made to New Hope Hospice. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Don was born November 6, 1939 in New Burnside, Illinois to Charles Melvin & Helen (Hodder) Burton. He came to St. Joseph as an infant in 1940 with his parents & resided in St. Joseph until he moved to Bullhead City 20 years ago. On November 29, 2001 Don married Diane Blondeaux. He graduated from St. Joseph High School where he played football, basketball, baseball and tennis. Don served his country in the US Army where he was stationed in Panama. He retired from the Edgewater Casino in Laughlin, Nevada after working for many years for Zerbel GMC in Benton Harbor. A great lover of the outdoors, Don enjoyed camping, hunting, hiking, golf, skiing and tennis. He was an avid reader and interested in all competitive sports. Don was a friendly, fun loving guy who loved to entertain his family and friends with magic tricks, his newly invented gadgets, or a new game he had mastered. He was known as “Uncle Great Don” to his grand nieces & nephews Kyle & Kasey Brown, Ty, Samantha & Hallie Taylor. He is survived by his wife Diane and their Yorkie Bandit; three steps sons Steve (Bev) Blondeaux, Jason (Marie) Blondeaux, Scott (Lisa) Blondeaux & grandchildren Nicholas, Gavin, Michael & Melanie all of Las Vegas. Sister Phyllis (Richard) Dowsett, nephews Keene (Shirley) Taylor & Tim Taylor of St. Joseph & niece Lora Brown of Grandville. His parents and Yorkie Bogie preceded his passing.