Donald E. Amadee
Donald E. Amadee, 50, of Freeport passed away unexpectedly Tuesday at the Butler Memorial Hospital.
Born Oct. 27, 1965, in Natrona Heights, he was the son of Joseph C. Amadee Jr. and Celestine Marie (Quinio) Amadee.
Donald was a 1983 graduate of Freeport High School and 1987 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, where he earned his civil engineering degree. He served for six years in the Coast Guard and was the commanding officer of the USCGC Point Francis, patrolling the Northeast U.S. Coast.
Following his military service, he and his wife, Amy, chose to make their home in rural South Buffalo Township, close to both of their families. Since then, Don served as the general manager for the Municipal Authority of Buffalo Township, where he oversaw the design, building and general operations of the water treatment plants in Freeport and Buffalo Township.
He was an active member of St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Saxonburg, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Partnership and served on the board of the Community Development Corporation of Butler County. He was a lay minister who also helped teach Catechism classes at St. Luke's.
Donald enjoyed running the annual Buffalo Creek half marathon and walking on the Buffalo Freeport Trail with Amy. He loved traveling and once rented a sailboat and lighthouse for a memorable vacation with his family.
During his time at the Coast Guard Academy, he was the two-year captain of the rowing team, which won a national championship.
Donald loved spending time outdoors on his farm property and fishing in the lake built by his father. He and Amy were best friends and a loving devoted couple. They are well-known for hosting many wonderful family reunions at their home. Donald's greatest pride was their two daughters, who reflect the immeasurable character of both their parents. He was a role model for everyone he met and will be sadly missed by all.
Surviving are his loving wife, Amy (Markwell) Amadee, who he married March 25, 1989; his mother, Celestine Marie Amadee of Freeport; his daughters, Kelly Marie Amadee of Freeport and 2nd Lt. Carol Jean (2nd Lt. Gregory Martin Jaksec Jr.) Jaksec of Fort Lee, Va.; his brothers, Joseph C. (Donna) Amadee III of Chesterfield, Va., Charles (Pamela) Amadee of Latrobe, Anthony (Simone) Amadee of Dupont, Wash., and Louis (Judy) Amadee of Phoenix, Ariz.; his sister, Dorothy Amadee of Charlotte, N.C.; many nieces and nephews; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, John and Ruth Markwell of Sarver; and his brothers-in-law, Jeff Markwell of Sarver, Paul (Sonia) Markwell of Chatham, N.J., and Tim Markwell of Sarver.
He is preceded in death by his father, Joseph C. Amadee Jr.
AMADEE — Friends of Donald E. Amadee, who died Tuesday, July 26, 2016, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Fox Funeral Home, 410 W. Main St., Saxonburg.Services will be at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 310 W. Main St., Saxonburg, with the Rev. Roger G. Keller officiating.Interment with military honors will follow at the Saxonburg Memorial Church Cemetery.Memorial donations may be made to St. Luke's Lutheran Church or to the Buffalo Freeport Community Trail.For more information, please visit www.foxfuneralhomeinc.com.
