The world has lost a beautiful soul. Donn Leonard Weipert passed away on February 14th after a courageous battle with Lewy Body Dementia. 

With a uniquely kind heart, an adventurous spirit, and the fortitude of a Gold Rush era mountain man, Donn inspired everyone he met. He grew up in San Luis Obispo, California, and graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in industrial engineering. His first job was at General Electric, which took him to Philadelphia, where he met Eileen, his wife of 58 years. 

But it was after landing a job at Hewlett Packard, when Donn moved his wife and two daughters to Colorado, that he knew he was home. He became an avid runner, bicyclist, triathlete, and rock climber. But his heart was in the mountains. Among his many adventures, Donn hiked all 567 miles of the Colorado Trail, 1200 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, 211 miles of the John Muir trail, and scaled all 54 Colorado mountains over fourteen thousand feet.  He continued to hike until his final months on earth. 

The only thing he loved more than the outdoors was his family. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for his wife and daughters, and it was his mission in life to make them happy. He was also devoted to his friends, who he valued and held onto for many decades. Donn saw the best in people, and felt a natural calling to service. After retiring from Hewlett Packard, he spent twenty years as a beloved volunteer at Bear Creek Nature Center, and twenty years delivering for Meals on Wheels.  

Donn passed away in the loving company of his wife, Eileen, and his daughters Chris and Diane, setting out for his last great adventure at about 4:45 AM, the same time he always got up to go running. He also lives on in his grandchildren, Hazel Fry and Theo Archer-Weipert, who will carry his spark for life well into the future. 

There will be a memorial to celebrate Donn’s life on June 15, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Bear Creek Nature Center in Colorado Springs.