Donald BaumgartnerDecember 28, 1929 - July 19, 2013Donald Baumgartner, 83, of Pocatello, Idaho, passed away on July 19, 2013 at home peacefully following a lingering illness. He was born on December 28, 1929 in Brush, Colorado to Pauline Brautigam Baumgartner and Dave Baumgartner. Don graduated as Valedictorian from Wiggins High School in 1948 and then went on to graduate with a BS Chemical Engineer degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1953. Don married Mildred Mable Dodge on April 10, 1952. To this union, three children were born in Pocatello; Diane, Douglas, and Dee. The marriage ended in divorce. He worked as a Process Engineer at the Westvaco Elemental Phosphorus plant near Pocatello, later being promoted to Senior Project Engineer. Westvaco later became FMC Corporation. Don also worked at the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Nuclear Power Division at the INEL site, west of Idaho Falls where he resigned in 1965 and began working as the Project Engineer with El Paso Products Company in Soda Springs, Idaho where he resided. Don married the love of his life, Lila Lee Sorensen, on September 8, 1967 in Soda Springs. With Lila's daughter, Tina, they moved to Midland Texas to work with Ortloff Engineering. He resigned from Ortloff and accepted a position with Stearns-Roger in Denver in 1970. He also worked for Morrison-Knudson in Boise in 1980. He designed and built beautiful homes, one for the cover of Colorado Home Magazine.Leisure activities included snow skiing, hunting, fishing, golfing, bowling and he loved showing his 64 T Bird convertible. Don was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church and served as usher and church sponsored Boy Scout Treasurer. He was active in civic affairs with the Pocatello Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) where he served as Treasurer, Vice President, and President, where he was given the Outstanding Citizen Award. He was elected the State District Director for Southeast Idaho. He was co-operator of a miniature golf course and driving range on South 5th Avenue. Don was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Shirley Baumgartner. He is survived by his wife, Lila Lee Baumgartner and her daughter Tina Larson and granddaughter Britney; children, Diane (Brad) Peck and their children Kamber and Tayler, Doug (Wendy) Baumgartner and their children Danielle, Rachel and David, and Dee (Jayne) Baumgartner and their children Hanna and Max; as well as a sister, Susan (John) Deford.Don's faith in Jesus Christ was central to who he was. While we are saddened at his passing, we rejoice in his heavenly homecoming. The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff of Encompass Home Health & Hospice. A Celebration of Don's Life will be along the Grey's river for his family. A public graveside at Restlawn Cemetery in Pocatello will be held 10:00 A.M. on August 2nd with Pastor Jonathan Dinger of Grace Lutheran Church officiating. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Downard Funeral Home, 241 North Garfield Ave., Pocatello, Idaho (208) 233-0686