Donald "Don" Smith Pierce Jr.Age: 85 • South BurlingtonDonald Pierce, 85, of South Burlington, Vt., passed away on March 7, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. Don had a strong will to live and fought back from various health issues, ultimately passing away following complications from recent surgery. Don was born on July 26, 1931, in Springfield, MA to Donald and Madeline (Warner) Pierce. Don lived in Glastonbury, CT for many years.Don started work at Pratt & Whitney in Hartford, CT then later moved to Burlington, VT where he worked many years as a Quality Engineer for General Electric, retiring in 1988. It was at General Electric that he met and married his second wife, Jeannette with whom he spent many happy years. It was through that marriage, that Don overnight became the proud father of six children. As their families grew, he welcomed each new member with open arms. Don loved golf and was a long-standing weather enthusiast. He was a seasoned traveler, and he and Jeannette enjoyed numerous trips to Europe and many cruises with family.Don was predeceased by his parents, Donald and Madeline (Warner) Pierce; sibling, Marilyn Pierce; first wife, Carol (Bartlett) Pierce; second wife, Jeannette Daignault (St. Amour) Pierce; son, Paul St. Amour; in-laws, John and Alice (Levesque) Daignault; and brothers-in-law, John, Arthur and Richard Daignault.He is survived by his sister-in-law, Joyce (Daignault) and husband, Robert Ricciardi; children, Lynn St. Amour and fiance, Luis Pedraza, of Newton, Mass., Susan and Gordon Lamay, Gail and David Haggarty, Donna and Peter Kinville, all of South Burlington, and Donald and Fran St. Amour of Broadbrook, Conn.; 15 grandchildren, Joseph Pedraza, Nicole Pedraza, Douglas and wife, Moira (Conway) Lamay, Allison Lamay, Monica Lamay, Melissa (Lamay) and husband, Michael Brin, Raymond Lamay, Sara (Haggarty) and Dan Bevis, Lisa Haggarty, Patrick Kinville, Andrew Kinville, Melissa Kinville, Holly (Mangiagli) Peck, Heather St. Amour, and Donald F. St. Amour; many great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces and nephews.The family would like to thank his many caregivers, especially the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and Palliative Care Services of the UVM Medical Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, March 17, 2017, at 11 a.m. at St. John Vianney Church in South Burlington, where Don was a longtime parishioner. Visiting hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 16, 2017, at Boucher and Pritchard Funeral Home, 85 No. Winooski Avenue, Burlington. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to US Dept. of Veterans Affairs (100% goes to support Veterans). White River Junction VA Medical Center, 215 No. Main Street, Veterans Drive, White River Jct. VT 05009.Visit burlingtonfreepress.com/obituaries to Express condolences and sign the guest book.