Donald F. Vetrone
Innsbrook, Missouri—Don died at age 92 on April 25, 2025.
Loving husband for 63 years of Janice (nee Patchen, deceased 2017), loving father of Mark (deceased 2019) and Joseph (deceased 2023). He is survived by four grandchildren: Bethany, Gina, Angela, and Jason; Beth LaCroix (past daughter-in-law); Patty Faller (future daughter-in-law); and seven great grandchildren, five great great grandchildren with one on the way, his sister-in-law Karen Vetrone of Cornelius N.C. and sister-in-law Kathie Stauffer of Northport, FL.
Don was born in Erie, PA. in 1932, one of three sons of Robert and Florence Vetrone. He attended Cathedral Prep High School in Erie and received undergraduate and graduate degrees from St Louis University. He married Janice in 1953 and they took up residence in St Louis. He was employed by McDonnell Douglas for over 39 years, contributing to many of their products until his retirement in 1992. Stories of his time with MD include running models up and down the highways in the early morning hours doing tests for the wind tunnel group.
He enjoyed golf, reading, traveling, and especially flying model airplanes, and was an instructor for his club, The Wright Flyers. Prior to moving to Innsbrook he was a ruling elder at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Dellwood, Missouri, as well as being a member of the choir and the Folk Group and an active member in the Northminster Players. At Innsbrook, he became a member of Harmonie Church.
The Memorial Service for Don is scheduled for June 28th, 1pm, at Harmonie Church on 24924 Stracks Church Rd.
Don was absolutely cherished by his large family and his many friends.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Don. My parents, Don and Shirley Smith were good friends of Don and his wife up until my parents passed away.
Pops, you were one of a kind. Hasn’t hit me quite yet, but it will. You’ll forever be my 2nd Dad. Give Jan, Mark and Joe a hug for me and if it’s not too much trouble, tell my Daddy I love and miss him. Now I have even more angels to keep me out of trouble. Love you all eternally.
Don and Janice were very nice people that treated me kind. How he took care of his family is a testament of strong manly values that are missed in today’s world.
I was a friend of Don’s originally from Norminster. We played golf together. He was supportive, open minded, a good communicator. I was honored to call him a friend. Gail Wagner
Don and Janice were always close to my parents and we thought of them as another of our aunts & uncles. They were the coolest of them all though, with Janice always having a kind word and Don always having good wisdom. Our family will miss Don but we know he’s without the pain that plagued him for the last years of his life. And now he can be with his lovely wife and two wonderful boys. My thoughts and prayers go to his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces & nephews he has left behind.
Affable upright honest and
most of all loving You could tell his love when he said someones name And open “keep in touch” and you knew he meant it Sorry to give up his model airplanes but without complaint, matter of factly We got to know each other as we worked together for the 1998 Vetrone family reunion I can’t wait for our next reunion To heard that sensebog humor deliveref by that pleaantly reasonant voice
Such a nice man. Joe always spoke so kindly of his dad.
I’ve known joe since we were 5. Don was like a dad to me when I was a kid. Jan always insisted I call her mom. Don always said joe and I were a regular mutt and Jeff. Don, sometimes too joe and I to the movies. From the time I was a little kid he told me a lot about fighter jets and Aerospace things. Joe’s mom used to take us to toy stores, a place on tge rock road the toy chest. Tge vetrones were great people and loved them a lot. I could tell hundreds of stories. Miss them a ton