Father Don was born in Topeka, Kansas, the oldes in a family of eleven. His father was a cattleman, so his family was a part of that business.

He attended public elementary and high schools, then Benedictine College and Kenrick Seminary, from which he was ordained in 1952 for the Kansas City, Kansas Archdiocese. He also attended Loyola Univerity in Chicago and received a master's degree.

Fr. Don held several post while in Kansas. He served as pastor in rural Kansas parishes, and he also built a new church in a Kansas suburb; he served as the C.D. Director of the Kansas Archdiocese.

He entered chaplaincy training at the State Hospital in Willmar, Minnesota and at Abbot Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Following training, he served as chaplain at Golden Valley Health Center. While there, he worked with addicted populations, including chemical, alcohol, sex and food addictions. After retirement, Fr. Don continued as chaplain at Unity and Mercy Hospitals.

We all know Fr. Don's passion for travel. He acts as a "cruise" chaplain whenever he can. He has led many pilgrimages, including two pilgrimages in 2004 to Poland for parishioners and friends from St. Hedwig.

Fr. Don came to St. Hedwig to celebrate the Sunday weekend masses a few years after Fr. Ted Guminga retired. Like Fr. Ted, he came as "temporary" and decided to stay. He entered our church family as a stranger, and is now an integral part of the fabric of our community.