Donald Thomas Nahrgang's Obituary
Donald “Don” Thomas Nahrgang, 96, passed away on Sunday, May 14, 2023. Born on May 17, 1926 in Philadelphia, PA, he was the youngest of Charles and Florence Nahrgang’s two sons. Don was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Charles Jr., wives, Joan and Charlotte and son-in-law Brent Kurrle.
Don grew up with his brother in the Bleigh Street neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA. As a teenager, he had a deep desire to join the Army Air Corp and attend cadet training. At age 17, he finally convinced his parents to give their consent on the condition that he complete high school before he enlisted. Don joined cadet training in November 1943 and graduated from Northeast High School in 1944. After he enlisted and during WWII, Don served stateside as a machinist, repairing B29 aircraft. At the end of WWII, he continued his military service as a member of the Army Air Corp Reserves until 1947. While working for the Budd Company in Philadelphia, Don attended night school on the GI bill at Temple University. He was a proud graduate of both Temple and Drexel Universities.
His architecture career began in Philadelphia. Among his many accomplishments was being selected to design the lettering for the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Normandy, France. Don was introduced to his future wife, Joan, by his neighbor and future brother-in-law, Ed Vees who was dating Joan’s sister, Charlotte. Both couples later married. Don and Joan were married on June 16,1951. In 1954 they welcomed their first child, Donna and 6 years later, Jim. Don and Joan moved to Newark, DE where they raised their family and Don started his successful architectural firm. He was generous with his skills, designing an addition for his niece’s home and a home for his daughter and son-in-law along the Magothy River. After the death of his beloved wife, Joan, he eventually married his widowed sister-in-law, Charlotte Vees, bringing two close families even closer. He moved to Mechanicsburg, PA after he and Charlotte married. After several years of “Snow birding”, the couple built a home and became full-time residents of The Villages in Lady Lake FL.
Don was a member of the Freemasons receiving his 50-year pin from Hiram Lodge No. 25 A. F. and A.M., a member of the Scottish Rite, and a member of the Bahia Shriners in Apopka, FL. He was also an active member of the Newark Kiwanis club where he served as President in the early 1970’s. An avid golfer until the age of 92, he proudly displayed his Hole in One certificate from his favorite course in The Villages in Lady Lake, FL. In his spare time, he loved to paint and was well-known by friends and acquaintances for his charm, wit and bad jokes.
Don was a loving husband, father, stepfather, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by his children, Donna Kurrle and James Nahrgang (Kim), step-children Charlene Vees and Edward Vees (Tondra), grandchildren Rebecca Harrington (Jason), Dana Kurrle, Ryan Nahrgang (Nicole) and Chase Nahrgang, Brian Vees, David Vees, and Kevin Vees (Ashley) and great-grandchildren Declan Harrington, Austin Harrington, and Caiden Vees.
A Celebration of Life for Don will be held on June 23, 2023 at 1:00PM at Lasting Tributes in Annapolis, MD. Friends are welcome to visit with the family prior to the service beginning at 12:00PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Philadelphia Shriners Hospital for Children- Surgery, Attn: Terry Diamond, 3551 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19140 Internment with military honors is being arranged for a later date at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear, DE.
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