Donald Joseph Datko

On Saturday, April 22, 2023, Donald Joseph Datko, known to his friends as Don,
passed away. He was born on August 22, 1935, in Los Angeles, California.

He attended St. Michael’s Catholic School along with his brothers, Richard (Dr. Richard Datko),
Gerald (Jerry), and Lawrence (Larry). He graduated from George Washington High
School in Los Angeles in 1953. After high school, Don served in the Army and was
stationed in Puerto Rico, where his enlisted occupation was a medic. After receiving an
honorable discharge from the army in 1956, Don attended Cal State Long Beach and
graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Don was employed by Edison, TRW,
and Aerojet and finally established a career with the Orange County Department of
Education as a budget analyst until his retirement.

Don devoted his life to God and to his family. He was involved in every Catholic
church he attended, from serving as an altar boy at St. Michael’s to fundraising for the
church building in the early days of St. Bonaventure Catholic Church. Don used his
accounting skills to help with many activities, including the parish festivals at St.
Bonaventure’s and Mater Dei High School. Don served as a catechist, a lector, taught
Confirmation classes, and was a Eucharist Minister. He volunteered for hospital ministry,
prison ministry and brought Holy Communion to the homebound.

Don was blessed to meet his beautiful future wife Diana on his first day at Edison.
They were joined together in Holy Matrimony on November 1, 1958, at St. Eugene's
Catholic Church. They had almost 31 years together before Diana passed away in
1989. Their union produced seven loving children, Caryn (Timothy) Case, Jean Leon,
MaryJo (deceased), Paul (Hermineh), Donald, Michael, and Laura (Michael) Luna. His
wonderful grandchildren are Ann Marie Worley, Philip Leon, Dr. Diana Leon, Megan
Case, Samuel Case, Jack Leon, Sophie Luna, Chloe Luna, Charmaine Datko, and
great-grandchildren Logan Worley, Oliver Worley, and Jordan Matteo Leon. Don is also
survived by his younger brother Lawrence and many loving nieces, nephews, and
friends.

A rosary and Mass were performed at St. Mary Margaret Catholic Church in
Bullhead City, Arizona on May 12, 2023. A Catholic Latin Mass will be celebrated at St.
Bonaventure Catholic Church in Huntington Beach on May 27, 2023, at 10:00 am.
Following the Mass, his burial will be at Good Shepherd Cemetery in Huntington Beach.

In place of flowers, please send donations to the building fund in Don Datko’s name for
St. Mary Margaret in Bullhead City, AZ. at
https://www.osvhub.com/stmargaretmarybhc/giving/funds .