Biography

George Robert (Bob) Donat, 86, Blackfoot, passed away Tuesday afternoon, March 2, at Bingham Memorial Medical Center, with family at his side.
He was born February 13, 1924 in Pocatello, Idaho, to George Dewey Donat and Nina Gertrude Keeler Donat.

Bob attended school in Pocatello and graduated from Pocatello High school in 1942. He attended Idaho Southern University before entering the Army in December, 1942; he served for 26 months overseas repairing C-47 and other airplane engines. After Germany surrendered, he was part of the occupation forces. He was awarded the European Theatre Ribbon, Good Conduct, and Victory Medals.

In his bachelor days, he loved spending time in Island Park with two of his life-long friends, Don Pollock and George Reed.

He married Alice Merrell Luker on May 9, 1955; this marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple January 19, 1974. He was a caring and loving father to her 6 children as well as a son born to them in 1956. He adopted Alice’s younger children shortly after they were married.

Bob worked for the Union Pacific Railroad as a surveying engineer until his retirement in 1983.

After Bob retired from the railroad he developed many talents among which were macrameing lawn chairs and drawing and painting pictures. He had many of his artistic works hanging on the walls of their home.

In the summer of 1956, he built a cabin in Island Park. All of his posterity has fond memories of the times spent there throughout the years.

Bob and Alice loved to travel and visited most of the lower 48 states, Alaska, and parts of Canada, taking their parents or children with them at times.

Bob was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings. He and Alice served a mission for the LDS church in the Mississippi Jackson Mission. They gained many cherished friends there and went back to visit several times.

After they completed their mission, they sold their home in Pocatello and split their time between Island Park in the summers and St. George, Utah, and Apache Junction, Arizona, in the winters. They served as Stake Missionaries for the Ashton, Idaho Stake at West Thumb and Old Faithful in Yellowstone Park in the summers and in Apache Junction in the winters.

Bob and Alice were members of the Good Sam’s Club and loved meeting new people and going on trips with their group. Bob still enjoyed meeting some of those members once a month for lunch to reminisce about good times.

Bob and Alice bought a home in Blackfoot, Idaho about 11 years ago and enjoyed the people and time spent there.

Bob and Alice have 7 children, 39 grandchildren, and 108 great-grandchildren, and 34 great-great grandchildren.

Bob is survived by his children: Harold (Bonnie) Luker, Pocatello; Eileen (Jim) Groome, Yelm, Washington; Gordon (Karen) Luker, Twin Falls, Idaho; Dianne (Sheldon) Olson, Pocatello; Terry Donat, Vandalia, Ohio; James (Dianna) Donat, Brigham City, Utah; daughter-in-law Janice Luker, Filer, Idaho; sister, Nina (Peggy) Birrell, American Falls, Idaho; and sister-in-law, Dolores Merrell, Pocatello.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice; parents, George and Nina Donat; son, Ronald Luker; and 3 grandchildren, Arva Lynn Luker; Keith Luker; and Niki Jo Koyle.

The family wishes to express appreciation to the ER staff and ICU staff at Bingham Memorial Medical Center, Blackfoot, and Creekside Hospice, Pocatello, for their loving care of both Bob and Alice in the last couple of years.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, March 6, at the Wapello Ward Building, 337 N. 200 E, (Wapello Road) north of Blackfoot on Highway 91, with Bishop Randy L. Hickman of the Blackfoot 13th Ward conducting.
The family will receive friends on Friday, March 5, at Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 S. 4th Ave, Pocatello, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and again at the Wapello building, from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., March 6, prior to the services in Blackfoot.

Funeral Service

Saturday March 6, 2010, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Wapello LDS Chapel
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Visitation

Thursday March 5, 2009, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Colonial Funeral Home
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There will also be a visitation one hour prior to the funeral service at the church.

Interment

Saturday March 6, 2010, 2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Mountain View Cemetery
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Time is approximate.