Don Darell Tague, 96, of Gorin, MO, passed away December 3, 2021 at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in Columbia, MO. Don was born at home on the Sandridge Bottom northwest of Gorin on November 18, 1925 to Charley Tague and Elsie Boltz Tague. Don was known since childhood as “Buck” by family and friends. He graduated from Gorin High School in 1943 and was a lifetime member of the Gorin Christian Church.
Don and Dorothy Jean “DJ” Stiff were married in 1952, and to this union were born five children: Sandra (Les) Kalman, Jane (Dan) Klopfer, Mona, David, and Paul (Diane). Grandchildren are: Vincent Kalman, Michelle (Klopfer) Krall, Matt Klopfer, Marla (Klopfer) Taylor, Jennifer Crawford, Valerie (Crawford) Vaughan, Mikayla Beckley, Mikenzie Beckley, Cyrus Tague, Alden Tague, and Eric Jones. Don enjoyed 14 great-grandchildren: Jadyn, Caleb, Jacob, Tomik, Bek, Bryleigh, River, Callan, Berit, Austin, Abby, Hunter, Remington, Chloe.
Don was inducted into the U.S. Army in March 1944, completed basic training at Camp Shelby, MS, and departed for Europe in early January 1945. Don served in Patton’s Third Army, the 65th Infantry Division, and due to his advanced training, good eyesight, and left-handedness carried the Browning Automatic Rifle (B.A.R). Near the end of the war, Don’s division helped liberate the Mauthausen Concentration Camp, meeting the Russian Army near Enns, Austria, where they stayed at the St. Florian Monastery for restoration efforts, before returning stateside in May 1946. He returned to service in 1950 as a reservist in the Korean War. He served in the 79th Engineers Construction Battalion, because of his skills operating heavy equipment. Don spent much of his time building structures and assisting with the evacuation of those who survived at the Chosin Reservoir. He faithfully attended his 65th Division, 79th Engineers, and Chosin Few reunions, bringing family with him and sharing memories with friends.
Don was a heavy machinery operator for most of his working life, and traveled often to help build roads and pipelines. He was a proud member of the International Union of Operating Engineers and retired at age 71. He had many life-long friends from his work travels, often calling them on birthdays and holidays.
Don served at Sergeant of Arms for the Gorin Memorial Day Service for many years, and celebrated this year with a large crowd gathered at the Gorin Cemetery. He was a member of the Memphis Masonic Lodge #16, earning his 50-year pin in 2009. He was Past Master of the Gorin and Rutledge Blue Lodges. Don enjoyed staying up with current events, living on his own, taking his sisters to dinner, visiting with family and friends, hunting with his children and grandchildren, and growing an extended family garden. Don enjoyed attending the Gorin Alumni Banquet in October.
Don was preceded in death by: his parents; wife, DJ Tague; brothers Evert, Jean, Weldon, Richard, and Bruce Tague; sisters, Grace Parsons Brown and Alice Snyder, and an infant sister; sisters-in-law Sadie Tague, Evelyn Tague, Demma Tague, Vera Tague, Mona Trent Tague, and Carol Anderson; brothers-in-law Harry Snyder and Bob Crandal.
Don is survived by two sisters, Ruthie Tague of Edina, MO and Vera Ann Crandal of Wayland, MO; one brother-in-law Richard Anderson of Tipton, IA, three step-brothers-in-law Sonny, David, and Harlan Pace; his five children, 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
His life will be remembered as one of service, hard work, family, community connections, and numerous good stories.
18 comments
So sorry to hear of Dons passing. He will be missed by all who knew him.
So sorry he was a good neighbor and had provided a great deal of valuable service to the community.
Absent from the body present with the Lord
The last who held a wealth of Goirn history. Prayers for his family.
I was so sorry to hear of Don’s passing. We always enjoyed listening about his service days when he came to Rutledge.
He will be missed.
What wonderful gentleman and respected friend.
Don will be missed. I enjoyed listening to all of Don’s knowledge. He came to my classroom multiple times to tell of his life in Gorin as well as his Military career. I also spent many Spring time cleanups at the cemetery with my student’s listening to him tell of of the lives of many people on the cemetery. He was a wonderful man who served his Lord and country in many ways. He will be missed.
The entire Larry Platz family is saddened by the loss of Uncle Don! Each one has special memories of the many special chats which were enjoyed with Uncle Don. ❤️ He will be missed. Please accept our sympathy .
Mona,
I was so sad to hear about your Dad. I know you will see him again Please take special care of yourself.and your girls. This is going to be a tough one. Need anything? Just whistle.
Love Gretchen
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He, was a great American. He will be missed by many.
He was truly one of the most remarkable men I’ve ever known. He emanated love, even when he told stories about those who were, by definition, his enemies. I am so honored to have known him, even in a small way.
Our condolences to the Tague Family. I heard many stories of his trips on Honor Flights he was able to attend. He shared insights of economy of past and present and what it means to use our right to vote, and Even his gardening ideas and grapevine tips were food for thought. Great information! He always had a saying when someone ask how he was doing…..”oh, things are really looking up!” Rest In Peace, Don!!!
Heartfelt sympathy.
An amazing man! I was so honored to have met him and learned so much from him. He will be truly missed.
Another great member of the Greatest Generation gone. We need to all stop for a moment and be grateful for his service in WWII. But what a legacy he has, so many good family members! My condolences to the entire Tague family. May his memory always be a blessing.
So sorry for your loss. I always enjoyed talking to Don when I lived in Gorin. He will be greatly missed by many. Praying for all the family.
Buck was a legend in his own time. He had a wealth of knowledge, and was the go to person for the history of Gorin people and places..His roots ran deep in his community and country. It was an honor to have known him.
I remember being invited by Uncle Buck to the Chosin Reservoir reunion in Springfield, MO, when my husband (Brent Platz) and I lived in Springfield. To say that reunion had an impact on me, would be an understatement. I still remember vividly what all of those brave men talked about. So openly and without reservation. I was so glad they were able to talk about their experiences, to not only have history live on, but to potentially get it off their own conscience. Thank you Uncle Buck for your service and for inviting my husband and I along for the reunion. Your impact will not be forgotten.
The Tague family, including Don, provide me fond memories of spending summers on my grandparents Carl & Carrie Pryor’s farm in Gorin. My brother Dick and I met and talked with Don and all the other many Tague’s who attended Gorin Christian Church. My grandmother played the piano for the church and grandfather the singing.
The Pryor family extends our deep condolences to the Tague family at the passing of one of Gorin’s most important men, Don.
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