Obituary of Donald Edward Hungenberg

Donald Edward Hungenberg, 93, of Greeley, passed away on May 31, 2022, at Meadowview of Greeley, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.  He was born to Edward and Ruth (Baker) Hungenberg on January 1, 1929 in Greeley, Colorado.

Donald was raised in the Greeley area where he grew up and worked on the family farm with his father, Edward.  He attended College High School where he excelled in basketball and track. After high school, Donald attended and graduated from Colorado State College (now UNC) where he received a bachelor’s degree in Education and was a member of the Delta Delta Tau Fraternity. He competed with the UNC Track Team, running the hurdles.  After completing his education, Donald taught and coached at Pierce High School and later in Gering, Nebraska, before returning to Colorado in the Spring of 1953. During his university days he met the love of his life, Beatrice Fry, and later married on March 18, 1951. They raised three sons, Michael, Paul, and William and were married for 71 years!

Donald and his brother, Kenneth, formed Hungenberg Brothers in the early 1960’s – the beginning of a produce company that specialized in carrots, turnips, parsnips and onion sets. In 1972, with growing families, Donald and Kenneth decided to go their separate ways. Donald, along with his sons, Mike and Paul, established Hungenberg Produce, Inc. growing carrots, onion sets, and cabbage.

When Donald was a young man starting his career as a Farmer, he was an amazingly hard worker. He learned from his Father about tilling the ground with horses. Planting was done with hand-pushed tools and he NEVER complained about hard work-EVER. He would lift and stack #50 baskets of carrots all day and think nothing of it. When tractors came to the farm it was a miracle! Later in life he became a John Deere Man, buying his first JD 4240 in 1980.  He said he would have had better hearing if he could have had a tractors 20 years earlier! He was a member of many mutual ditch companies, serving to keep them working efficiently.  Farming was his way of living, supporting his family and honoring God.

Donald loved the outdoors. He enjoyed catching Rainbow trout in the Rocky Mountains and pursuing big game in the Red Feather area.  He taught his three sons how and where to fish. He often took his boys along to hunt waterfowl, pheasants and grouse. Don taught his three sons how to camp and how to become experts with a gun while hunting game that they would later eat! When he wasn’t working the fields, he taught his sons his love and ability to enjoy sports, including track, basketball and baseball. He enjoyed golfing in his later years, playing in tournaments with his wife and sons, and even the Grandchildren. He loved spending time watching each of his 6 grandchildren excel at different sports.  He was proud that God gave each one a special and different talent. He made every effort to attend all their sporting events of baseball, basketball, golf and football. Family golf weekends at the Eaton Country Club and in Arizona were some of his favorite pastimes.

Don and Bea enjoyed winters in Peoria, Arizona, enjoying the sunshine and golfing daily with new friends.  It was a delight to sit on their patio with lemon and orange trees growing all around and taking a spin in their golf cart to go shopping!

He was member of the Covenant Church and then the Greeley Wesleyan Church. He was a trustee of the Wesleyan Church (now Generations Church) breaking ground for the new Church in 1981. He served on the Board of Administration for many years. He enjoyed being the narrator for the Christmas Programs and MC for Church Programs, with his deep booming voice and teaching Adult Sunday School.  He will be deeply missed by all that knew him but we know that they will see him again in heaven.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Beatrice; Children, Michael (Joy) Hungenberg, Paul (Pamela) Hungenberg, William (Tracey) Hungenberg; grandchildren, Emily (Russell) Haythorn, Eric (Erin) Hungenberg, Jared (Chelsey) Hungenberg, Jason (Cassandra) Hungenberg, Jordan (Elaine) Hungenberg, and Kathy (Brett) Myatt; He was blessed with 14 great grandchildren with one more expected in June! He had many extended family and friends, that he enjoyed spending time with. 

Donald was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Ruth Hungenberg and brother, Kenneth Hungenberg.

Memorial contributions in Donald Hungenberg’s name can be made out to The Weld County Food Bank or the Community Outreach Center, in Care of Adamson Life Celebration Home, 2000 47^th Avenue, Greeley, Colorado 80634. To leave condolences for Donald’s family, please go to www.adamsoncares.com

Life Celebration Memorial will be held at 11 am, Thursday, June 9, 2022 at Adamson Life Celebration Home in Greeley, Colorado.