Don Quane, 80

Don Oliver Quane, 80, of Hayden, Idaho, died Feb. 21, 2010, at home. He was born March 13, 1929, in American Falls, Idaho, the second of six children born to Wesley and Hazel (Gierke) Quane.

Don grew up in southern Idaho and graduated from Rupert High School in 1947 and the University of Idaho in 1953, where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.

In the fall of 1953, Don was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, obtaining his pilot’s rating in 1954. On Jan. 6, 1957, Don married Donna M. Burch in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Their first home was in Woodbridge AFB, England, where Don served as a combat pilot with the 79th Fighter Bomber squadron, flying F-84 and F-100 aircraft. In 1958 they moved to Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.

Don flew the supersonic F-104, an aircraft affectionately known as the “missile with a man in it.” Don was a pilot and flight instructor, logging thousands of hours and training numerous pilots in the F-84F, F-100, T-33 and T-39 aircraft at Luke AFB in Arizona and Nellis AFB in Nevada. He flew a year in Vietnam as an ALO-FAC. Don flew the L-19 and received 3 Air Medals and 2 AF Commendation Medals for his service.

Don was stationed at McDill AFB in Florida with the 15th Tactical Fighter Wing, and then moved to Ramstein AFB in Germany where he was the Division Chief of Air Defense Evaluations for the 4th Allied Tactical Air Force (NATO). Don returned to George AFB California for a short while.

In his next assignment Don was Commander of the First Test Squadron at Clark AFB in the Philippines. Don flew the F-4 Phantom in the Philippines, managing enhancements to the aircraft’s air-to-air capabilities. Don returned to the states in 1975 as Base Commander at Indian Springs AFAF, in Nevada. The base maintained gunnery targets and an airfield for the 3 million acre gunnery range in southern Nevada. On June 30, 1978, Don retired from the Air Force and moved with his family to Boise, Idaho.

Don was active in the Owyhee Motorcycle Club during the years when his son raced motocross. He served as president and enjoyed working at the club. Don was also an active participant with the Fort Boise Optimists. He volunteered as a driver for FISH, and worked in the Auto Line department of the Better Business Bureau for several years.

In 1995 Don and Donna moved to Hayden Lake, Idaho. He continued to ride his motorcycle and enjoyed camping with family in and around the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River. Don loved to cut firewood. He enjoyed giving the wood away as much as burning it at home. He worked with ElderHelp, providing wood to families in the area.

Don was a supporter of the University of Idaho and loved Vandal football. Don was a loving husband, father and grandfather who loved his God, his family and his country.

Don is survived by Donna, his wife of 53 years in Hayden Lake; his son and daughter-in-law, David and Jill W. Quane and three grandchildren, Austin, Audrey and Lauren Quane all of Mill Creek, Wash.; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Beverly Bell, Joanne and Laurence Finberg, Jeannine and Ron Storey, Pat Ringe and Kay Hopkins; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, June Tracy, Phyllis and Don Peters, Dianne Higgens, and Ruth Carole and Don Hayman.

In lieu of flowers those who wish may remember Don with a memorial to the Buck Knife Program for Military Veterans, which provides engraved knives to veterans in recognition of their service to our country. These remembrances can be sent to Graham Crutchfield, 11492 N. Stinson Loop Hayden, ID 83835. Memorials may also be sent to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way Hayden, ID 83835.

The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010, at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel, with burial following at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens.

Please visit Don’s memorial and sign his online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.