Donald Peter Gotterbarm, 85, died suddenly on November 20, 2019 in Federal Way, WA.
Donald was born in Gladstone, ND April 26, 1934 to Phillip & Gertrude (Trost) Gotterbarm, forth child of five children. He moved with his family to Yakima, WA in 1942. He attended Catholic school and graduated from Marguette High School in 1954. He worked in the warehouses of Yakima when he was young and joined the US Army in 1955-1961, stationed at The Presidio of San Francisco.
In 1960 he married Helen (Warren) Stillings. They (including Shelley & Doug, Helen’s Children) settled in Yakima, WA, where Debra & Ted were born. In 1965 the family relocated to Seattle. In 1968 the family moved to Federal Way where Don & Helen resided until their deaths.
Don became a member of Ironworkers Local 86 in 1961. He worked and later supervised the construction of freeways, bridges and buildings throughout the Seattle area, to include the Columbia Tower for Howard S. Wright before retiring in 1993. He was a member of Ironworkers Local 86 for 58 Years.
He and his wife Helen coached soccer teams in Federal Way during the 70’s and 80’s and watched many of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s games. They owned Helen’s Florist & Gifts, Twin Lakes, Federal Way until their retirement.
Donald was preceded in death by his wife Helen (2007) and his step-son Douglas Stillings (1985). He is survived by his sister Irene (Mike) Waypa of Canton, MI and his brother Phillip (Janet) Gotterbarm of Spokane, WA, his children Shelley (Devin) Roscoe of Sahuarita, AZ, Debra (Byron) Glasser of Tacoma, WA, Theodore Gotterbarm of Federal Way, WA; (13) Grandchildren, (19) Great-Grandchildren and (1) Great-great-grandson.
Viewing will be held at Klontz Funeral home, 410 Auburn Way N., Auburn, WA 98002, 5-7 PM, Wednesday, December 4th.
Burial will be held at Mt. Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th ST., Kent, WA 98042, 1:30 PM, Thursday, December 5th. (Instructions to burial site provided at front entrance)
A Celebration of Life will be held at the FW Senior Center, 4016 S. 352nd ST, Auburn, WA 98001, 1-4 PM, Saturday, December 7th.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Don’s favorite charity; ST Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 ST Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; www.stjude.org.
