Donald Pill

Donald LeRoy Pill was born in Omaha and grew up an avid sportsman and fan in Los Angeles. Don enjoyed family time, coaching Little League, and watching the Dodgers. In addition to bowling (he once bowled a 299 game), Don especially enjoyed playing baseball as a youngster and continued playing softball into his 80s in a Las Vegas senior’s league.

For Don’s last at-bat, he had to face a “closer” with a nasty reputation. Everyone watching knew that the “closer” would be trouble. The crowd’s fears were confirmed when he finished his last warmup pitch and turned his back to the crowd. And there it was, on the back of the pitcher’s jersey, his last name: Alzheimer. Alzheimer’s pitching repertoire included splitters, changeups, sliders, screwballs, backdoor curves, and things we’ve never seen before. And that final pitch? Well, it painted the outside corner of the plate. Not one to take a third strike looking, Don went down swinging in his final at-bat on June 18, 2021, at 86 years young. Don’s struggles with Alzheimer’s disease were finally over.

Don worked hard all his life to provide the best he could for his family, and he delivered. He was a great dad and granddad. He is survived by his sons Chuck (and Carol) and Ken (and Marilyn) and their families. He was especially proud of his four grandchildren--Alexandra (and Alexander), Anthony, Madi, and Joshua--and loved them very much. He was preceded in death by his sister Janice and brother Earl. The families send their appreciation to the staff members at The Fountains, The Commons, and Hope West in Grand Junction, CO. In addition, the families also appreciate those who stuck with him to the end, especially Lou Wodrich, Gerald Unruh, and Richard and Marti Hafen.