Donald Otto Straub

Donald grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and was 18 when he entered the Navy after his 1943 high school graduation, making him one of the younger Americans to serve in World War II.

Donald was trained as a radio operator, then went to gunnery school and was assigned to the 109th. In 1945, he was sent to Palawan, in the Philippines. Donald rode on a PB4Y-2 Bomber.

On August 5, 1945, the 109th lost a full crew when the Japanese shot down a Privateer. The next day, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

The dropping of an atomic bomb on Nagasaki came three days later. On August 15, 1945, the Japanese announced they were surrendering.

Donald came out of the war with three Air Medals, GI Bill benefits and determination to attend college.

A wartime commander recommended A&M (now Colorado State University), where Donald played a year each of football and basketball, and four years of baseball.

As a senior, “Lefty Straub” led the Aggies to a 17-2 record and the 1950 Skyline Conference championship before they lost to Wisconsin and Texas at the College World Series, the first held in Omaha.

Donald signed with the Boston Braves, getting a $5,000 bonus, and spent the rest of the ’50 season with the Denver Bears, going 7-5.

After shoulder surgery, he sat out the 1952 season and retired after one more minor-league year.

After a career as a regional sales manager for Coors and other brewing companies, Donald retired in 1990. He and his wife, Susie, moved to Windsor from Seattle in 2008.

Donald was inducted into the CSU Sports Hall of Fame on October 14, 2011.

Donald is survived by his wife of almost 49 years (August 2018), Susan; children Dane Straub, Holly (Gary) Lofstrom, Kyle (Karla) Straub, Kim (Chris) Williams and twelve grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Amelia and Otto Straub and his brother, Arlan Straub.

Interment with Military Honors will be held on Wednesday, September 30, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.