Don, 83, passed away on Friday, November 8, 2024, after a long illness at home surrounded by family including his life partner, Juanita Wright. He was born March 31, 1941, to Violet and Edward A. Wright in Alton, Illinois. Don graduated from Galesburg High School in 1959 in Galesburg, Illinois. After moving to Waterloo, he enlisted in the U.S Army and served from 1963 to 1966.

Don attended the University of Northern Iowa and graduated in 1974 with a BA in Social Work. After working as a Social Worker in the Waterloo area in a variety of human service agencies, he earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Iowa in 1981 and a Master of Arts in American Studies in 1998. Don continued post graduate work at the University of Iowa towards a PHD in American Studies. His teaching career began at the University of Northern Iowa in 1981 until 1999. Don, then, taught at the University of Iowa from 1999 to 2004. He retired from teaching full-time in 2004. Don's passion for teaching took him back into the classroom part-time at UNI and Hawkeye Community College.

Don also served on the board of directors of the Tri-County Head Start and United Cerebral Palsy of Northeast Iowa, Inc. In addition, he served as a commissioner on the Cedar Falls Human Rights Commission and the State of Iowa Department of Human Service Council. Don was a member of the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE.)

Don is survived by his life partner of 52 years, Juanita Wright (Cedar Falls); his children, Donise Keller (Antioch, CA) and Justin (Jamie) Wright (West Des Moines); step-son, Donavan Rankins (Antioch, CA); grandchildren: Kameron Cogman, Keilen Keller, Devon Keller, Cameron Wright, Davis Wright and Berkley Wright; brother-in-law, Rosendo Puentes (Mason City); sister-in-law, Anita (Neil) Franz (Boulder, NV); nine nieces and nephews; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

He is preceded in death by his father, Edward A. Wright; his mother, Violet Hollins; his step-father, Edwin Hollins; his sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Morris Coleman; nephew, Howard (Skip) Duncan Jr., father-in-law and mother-in-law; grandparents; aunts; and uncles.

Don's family will hold a Celebration of Life Service on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home with a time of Visitation from 1-1:30, a Memorial Service beginning at 1:30 (Military rites will be conducted at the conclusion of the service) and Visitation from end of Service until 3:00 pm. All events will take place at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home of Cedar Falls. Although Don loved houseplants, he would also have been proud to have Memorials directed to the UNI Foundation to help minority students seeking a degree in Social Work.