Donald “Duck” Edward Pesicka, son of Fred and Wilhelmina Sophia (Reich) Pesicka, was born December 13, 1940 in Dupree, South Dakota.  He grew up on a farm where he learned the value of hard work, love for the land, and love for family.  He graduated from the Dupree School District High School as part of the Class of 1959.

Don moved to California in 1959, where he lived for 35 years.  For a majority of this time, he worked for the City of Alameda as the Park Supervisor.  On October 14, 1970, he was united in marriage to the love of his life Sandra Yleen Owens in Alameda, California.  Together, they raised their beloved granddaughter Amanda (Rogers) Butkovich. He was always very proud of his little girl.

In 1989, Don joined the Elks Lodge in Alameda, where he went on to become a lifetime member. Eventually, he retired from the city and moved to Russell, Kansas.  There, he joined the Masons and Shriners.  In 2012, he moved to Olathe, Kansas, in order to live closer to his granddaughter Amanda. 
In his free time, Don loved spending time with family and friends, playing with his faithful dog Wylie, working outdoors, going to coffee, tinkering in the garage, riding on his motorcycle, and traveling to South Dakota.  All who knew him remember his big smile, kind heart, and warm spirit.
He passed away peacefully at his home in Olathe on July 22, 2016, at the age of 75 years, 7 months, and 9 days.  There, he had been recovering from recent heart surgery.  His final days were filled with love, and he was surrounded by family and friends.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, sister Margaret Borgess, brothers Alvin and Wayne Pesicka, and son Ed Haley.

Survivors include his wife Sandra of Olathe; daughters Sharl (Gary) Leon of Hayward, California and Kimberly (James) Walton of Tempe, Arizona; son Fred Haley of Irving, Texas; granddaughters Amanda (Michael) Butkovich of Olathe, Kansas and Kristina and Jessica Ambrosino of Phoenix, Arizona; grandsons Vincent Ambrosino, Jr. of Phoenix, Arizona and Fred Haley, Jr. of Irving, Texas; great-grandchildren Alex and Lexy Bermeo of Phoenix, Arizona; and many other relatives and friends.  He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

A memorial service to celebrate Donald's life will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, August 06, 2016, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas.  Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 11 A.M. Saturday morning before the memorial service.  Memorials may be given to the City of Russell Tree Program and sent in care of the mortuary.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the memorial service arrangements.