Donald "Don" Raymond Price, age 87, died peacefully at his home on Lake Vermilion May 23, 2022.  Don will be deeply missed by his wife of 65 years, Marcia; his son Dave (Deb) Price, and daughters Diane (Mark) Pascuzzi and Deb (Dave) Stehlik; his six grandchildren Kevin (Jess) Best, Tony (Amanda) Pascuzzi, Gina (Justin) Nukala, Kelsey (Cam) Roemhildt, Taylor Stehlik (Michael O'Meara) and Connor Stehlik; and his ten great-grandchildren Izzy, Vinny, Josey and Charlie Pascuzzi, Kaleb and Ava Best, Logan and Addison Roemhildt, Natalie O'Meara and Avery Nukala.

Don was born in Everett, PA, to Melvin Celon Price and Ethel Mae Calhoun. Don lived in 15 different states because of his father's occupation. The state of Washington was one of his favorites and where his father helped build the Grand Coulee Dam.  While attending high school there, he was asked to play a trumpet-solo intro to "Hail to the Chief" for Harry Truman dedicating the completed dam.  He continued playing his trumpet throughout his life as a member of many bands and drum and bugle corps.  In later years, he enjoyed attending concerts with his wife and friends. He graduated high school at Teddy Roosevelt in Cedar Rapids, IA in 1953 and attended Junior College in Virginia, MN to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree.  He then completed an electrical apprenticeship program to become a licensed electrician.

He met Marcia Vos, was married in 1956 and soon made their home in Cedar Rapids, IA for eleven years raising three children.  The family made wonderful friends there but decided to embark on a new adventure returning to Minnesota to buy and operate Vos Resort from Marcia's parents Marvin and Jeanette Vos in 1969.   Don started a marine business on the lake and after twenty years sold the resort but moved Up North Marine Sales and Service to Cook, MN.  These years of public service and traveling gave the opportunity to meet and make lifetime friends with people across the country.  He and Marcia retired on Lake Vermilion at Paradise Point and wintered at Goodland, FL for years until acquiring a RV to once again travel the country; often to places Don once lived.   Being retired also gave him more time for his hobbies and his "toys" which included airplanes, cars, and countless other things that moved.  His passion for flying started at a young age by building model airplanes and constantly had an airplane, large or small, being rebuilt or constructed from a kit in his shops.  He began flight instructions in his teens to become a pilot and continued flying a floatplane all his life.   He helped form an EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Group while living in Cedar Rapids, IA, and tried attending the Wisconsin Oshkosh Fly-in and Convention every year.   He also enjoyed modifying cars and took pride in keeping all vehicles - new and classic- in top shape.  Don spent hours kicking tires at classic car events such as Back to the Fifties in St. Paul where he recently showed his latest classic car, a 1957 Chevy.

Don forever stayed busy doing projects for himself, family and friends. He belonged to organizations such as car clubs, helped organize the Cook St. Louis Rescue Squad, and was a member and officer for lake and resort associations.  He was committed to the churches where he lived and a member of Cook Trinity Lutheran Church and reminisced how he braved climbing the church tower when first installing the bell.   Although not always active, he was proud to be a lifetime Masonic member too.

He loved life and loved sharing time on Lake Vermilion with friends and family, joining with other pilot and car guys, meeting the gang on Wednesday for lunch at the South Switch or the Landing, sharing his pecan beverage, tackling a sausage pizza at the VC or finding a place that made chocolate malts as good as he made for guests at the resort (Wendy's and Gordy's were close contenders).  One of his first jobs was being a soda jerk and started young finding assorted jobs to help finance his love for "toys" and buy gas for "cruising".

His continual devotion, assistance and fix-it advice will be missed by all.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, June 10, 2022 at 1:00pm at Mlaker Funeral Home, Cook, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Online condolences to www.mlakerfuneralhome.com.