Donald Pucci

Donald Alfred Pucci (Oct. 4, 1957-Dec. 21, 2024)

It is with great sadness that the family of Donald “Don” Alfred Pucci share that he passed away at the age of 67 Dec. 21, 2024, at his residence in Ellsinore, Missouri.

Don was born in Chicago in 1957 to Alfred and Violet Pucci. He attended East Leyden High School in Franklin Park, Illinois before earning a Master of Science in Biology at Southern Illinois University.

Don met his wife, Kathleen “Kathy”, at Triton College when they were both 19. They married two years later in 1979 at Saint Cyprian Catholic Church in River Grove, Illinois. After 10 loving years, the couple welcomed their first daughter, Coral. Six years later, the couple told Coral with joy that she would soon meet her little sister, Jessica. The couple spent their early years in southern Illinois before moving to southeastern Missouri so Don and Kathy could better share their love for nature with their girls. Coral and Jessica grew up learning about the animals and plants of the Mark Twain National Forest, scuba diving in Norfork Lake, and fishing on the Current River—Don showed his family the beauty of the Ozarks, and the beauty of life in general, from so many different perspectives.

In his professional life, Don wore many hats over the years—from working in a bakery as a teenager to roofing in his twenties. After college he worked for the Illinois Department of Fish & Wildlife before finding his career and cherished work family at Briggs & Stratton as the Senior Manager of Environmental Health and Safety. After retirement, Don created Foothills Environmental Consulting LLC.

Don loved spending time with his family, exploring nature, and working with his hands. He had a passion for ecology and wildlife conservation; he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and scuba diving; and he was a talented taxidermist, woodworker, and painter. He was a masterful craftsman who worked tirelessly to tailor his and Kathy’s house into their dream home. Don held a deep appreciation for and love of cinema and literature and spent a great deal of time watching movies and reading with his girls.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred (1989) and Violet (1997) Pucci, and his sister, Janice Pucci (2016).

He is survived by his devoted wife of 45 years, Kathy; two daughters, Jessica Pucci and Coral (James) Dundon; his siblings-in-law, Gregory and Nancy Boysen, Lawrence and Arlene Boyse; four nieces and five nephews; as well as friends as close as family, the Orchards (Noel, Richard, Kristie, Kody, Jacob, and Shelby). Don’s family meant the world to him, and he meant the world to them. He was a caring, supportive, and dependable husband, father, and friend who always put his loved ones before himself. The Pucci family dearly misses Don and will forever hold in their hearts all the wonderful memories they shared with him.

Services to be announced.

Online condolences can be made at www.cwrfcs.com.