Col. Donald Thomas Ford

Col. Donald Thomas Ford, age 96, passed away peacefully on November 2, 2026, at Heritage Assisted Living in Elm Grove.

Don was born on November 16, 1929, to Jerry and Mabel (Clark) Ford in Kaukauna, WI. He grew up alongside his three siblings in Antigo and Monico, WI and graduated from Antigo High School in 1947. He was on the high school football team, which served to be a precursor to his later career. He had a deep love for dogs, and from a young age, always had a pup at his side. He was close with his family and one of his first jobs was working as a fireman on the railroad where his dad was a conductor.

Don joined the Army in 1951 and was commissioned as an officer a year later. He was stationed in California where he met and married the love of his life, a fellow Wisconsinite, Rita Nobles. When they returned to Wisconsin, Don pursued his passion for education, earning a bachelor's degree in Physical Education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After graduation, they moved to Racine, WI, where Don began his professional career as a physical education teacher and coach, later becoming an athletic director. They raised their four children there, and Don became an integral part of the Racine community. He formed many lifelong friendships - planning annual fishing trips, group sports outings, and military reunions to bring together the people he cherished. Don was a lifelong Wisconsin sports fan - on gameday you could always count on the Packers, Badgers, or Brewer’s flag flying in front of the Ford house.

Don had a highly distinguished military career spanning 31 years in the Army and Army Reserve, rising to the rank of full Colonel. Many of the awards and honors he received over the years reflect his profound lifelong dedication to the Armed Services of the United States, including induction into the Officer Candidate School (OCS) Hall of Fame, the single highest honor bestowed on an OCS graduate; and the prestigious Department of Defense Lifetime Achievement Award, making him one of only 16 Wisconsinites to receive the award in a 50-year span. Much of his later military-related legacy came through the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), where he volunteered for more than 20 years to promote leadership, patriotism, and cooperation between civilian employers and citizen soldiers. Additionally, he served 25 years as the leader of the Eagle’s Nest Armed Forces Center in Racine. He was steadfast in his concern and care for fellow service members, dedicating himself to keeping the Eagle’s Nest available for any service member who needed support or camaraderie.

Outside the uniform, he was deeply woven into the local community, spending 37 years in education as a beloved physical education teacher; athletic director; and football, track, and basketball for both Case High School and William Horlick High School in Racine. He was integral to the expansion of women's sports programs at the high school level in the 1970s. He worked hard to recruit outstanding coaches, male or female for the women's teams, believing that young women deserved the same opportunities as their male counterparts. After his retirement in 1995, Don formed the Case Alumni C Club, an organization that continues to this day, bringing together past letter winners to raise money for the athletics department.

Above all, Don was committed to molding young people not only into fine athletes, but into caring and considerate people. Many former students kept in touch with Don over the years because of the impact he'd had on their lives. Upon his induction into the Southeastern Wisconsin Educator's Hall of Fame in 2003, one wrote, "Don taught by example, instilling in his students a code of honor, respect, hard work, and sacrifice. Although much of the factual information we learned in school may be long forgotten, the character-building lessons taught to us by Don Ford endure today."

Don touched many lives through his countless years of service in the military, as an educator and coach, and as a friend and father. While he received many awards and honors throughout his lifetime, he was proudest of being a devoted husband, father, Grampy, and coach. He brought the same commitment to his family that he brought to his career, filling every interaction with life and infectious energy. He loved and cherished his children and grandchildren, which was evident in the little ways he showed up for them. He would call whenever there was a PBS special he thought they might enjoy, and he never missed a birthday, marking the day with a poem he wrote or a singing voicemail. When his grandkids came to stay, he taught them the ins and outs of cribbage, and prepared the same breakfast each morning, slicing bananas right over their cereal bowls. There was, of course, a bowl of ice cream each night before bed. He will be remembered not just for his achievements, but for the warmth, integrity, humility, and humor he brought to each day. We love and miss you, Dad, Grampy, Don.

Don is survived by Rita, his wife of 73 years; his children: Mike, Pam (Bob), Tom, and Jane Ford; his grandchildren: Aimee Roll; Margaux, Ella, and Laurel Stutz; Zarah and Jackson Ford; and four great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings: Jerry Ford Jr, Margaret (Ford) Staabe, and Nancy (Ford) Currie.

A Funeral Service celebrating Don’s life will be held at 11:00 am, at the funeral home, on Friday, November 13, 2026. Relatives and friends are welcome to meet with the family for Visitation Friday at 10:00 am until time of service. Private interment will be held at the Southern Wisconsin Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, Town of Dover. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Eagle's Nest: Armed Forces Center, PO Box 085742, Racine, WI 53408.