Donald Harold Marquess, Jr

Donald Harold Marquess Jr. was a beloved husband and father to our precious daughter, Stacey Anne Marquess. He was affectionately known as “Don,” or Donny, when he was in trouble.

He was born on October 13, 1942, in Denver, Colorado, at St. Luke’s Hospital, and he was proud to be identified as a “Native” Coloradan. Come to find out, he belonged to the Silent Generation…known for its reserved, unassuming nature.

Tragically, Don’s life was cut short due to complications from a knee surgery and blood clots. He passed away on December 21, 2025; he was 83 years old on the Winter Solstice. Don’s goal after surgery was to allow him to continue his love of travel without pain and to spend quality time with his beloved dog, Akiko.

Don attended South High School until his mother found out he jumped out of a school window. Subsequently, his parents relocated to Arvada, and he enrolled in Arvada High School. Don went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Colorado State University. After graduating, he enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed in Charleston, South Carolina. Later, he served in Vietnam as an Information Specialist/reporter.

Upon his discharge, Don worked at various retail stores, including May D&F, Fashion Bar, HC Prange, and Hobby Lobby, where he held positions as a buyer and store management. Later, he changed careers and worked for Bank One (now Chase), where he retired.

We met at May D&F and tied the knot on May 31, 1975, in Denver, Colorado. We planned and celebrated our 50th Anniversary in South Africa, May 2025.

Upon retiring, Don’s primary objective was to embark on a global journey, immersing himself in the diverse cultures, histories, architectural marvels, and culinary delights from various countries—particularly beer, which he savored in each locale. As an avid reader, he particularly relished historical accounts and action novels, often drawing parallels between fictional events and real-world occurrences.

Don also enjoyed visiting Hard Rock Cafés, not only to support his daughter’s pin collection but to indulge in acquiring T-shirts from HRC, concerts he attended, and visited destinations.

His favorite sport and team to follow was the Colorado Avalanche (favorite player: Nathan MacKinnon), followed by the Denver Broncos (Payton Manning). Don loved playing "Guess the Song/Artist " with his daughter, Stacey; his favorite music genre was Country-Western, and he liked the musicians from the ‘50s to the '70s. Later, he grew an appreciation for modern classical music. We also loved Red wine tastings from Colorado, Napa Valley, and Australia with friends and family.

Don held a deep respect and unwavering support for our military, and he proudly flew the US flag.

Don was preceded in death by his parents (Donald Sr. and Roberta Marquess), father- in-law Julius Ishida, his sister, Debra Brock, and his loving daughter, Stacey Anne.

Don is survived by his wife, Sherril Marquess; mother-in-law, Leona Ishida; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ron and Tina Ishida; and nephews (Travis & Scott Brock, Will Ishida), and niece (Katie Ishida) who reside in Tennessee and Colorado.

Instead of flowers, please donate to Tunnel to Towers (T2T.org) or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (stjude.org).

Please visit horancares.com to share condolences and memories with the Marquess Family.