Donald L. Sires

Donald L. Sires was born September 25, 1951, in Waterloo, Iowa, and passed away of ALS peacefully and surrounded by family at home in Newberg, Oregon, on April 26, 2026. Preceding him in death were his father, Marvin (Chap) Sires; his mother, Jane Brodhay Sires; sister, Mary Jane Sires, along with her young son, Jacobas Mathew Siemens; brothers Charles Michael Sires and Thomas H. Sires; and Don’s infant son, Ezekiel Michael Sires. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Donna Sires; their children: Amelia Sires Nelson (Christopher), Caleb Sires, Cody Rubick (Mary), and Jade Rubick (Katharine); grandchildren: Benjamin and Iona Sires Nelson; Greyson, Atticus, and Elliot Sires; Valentina, Vivienne, and Anthony Haugh Rubick; Sasha Rubick; Dorian Siemens, Don’s beloved nephew; and Christopher Jordan, who Don always considered part of his family. He is interred at the Yamhill Carlton Pioneer Cemetery . Don graduated from Oregon State University in 1983 with a degree in Industrial Arts Education. He taught Industrial Arts and Technology at Twality Jr High until 1990 and Industrial Arts and Computer Repair at Tualatin High School until he retired in 2014. He also coached track and field for many years. In 1993, he took a 2 year leave of absence to move to Kosrae, Micronesia where he worked with their Department of Education to help develop vocational programs for both on-island and off-island. During summers, Don ran his own construction and remodeling business. Outside of work, Don loved traveling, camping, sailing, hiking, and running. His love for the outdoors cannot be overemphasized. He was always on the go. He also loved playing the guitar and it was losing the ability to fingerpick that first alerted him that something was wrong. He was diagnosed with ALS a year later in 2024. Throughout his diagnosis, as the ability to do the things he loved were slowly disappearing from him, Don maintained a positive attitude. He was not afraid of death and was even a guest on the podcast “The When We Die Talks” (see links below). Don’s love of his religion, the Bahá’í Faith, brought him a constant comfort and guidance, as well as his passion for learning about all religions and beliefs. Don will be greatly missed by all. Original podcast: https://www.whenwedietalks.com/episodes/ep08-don-sires Follow-up podcast airing right before he passed: https://www.whenwedietalks.com/episodes/wwdt-don-sires-special-episode

Donald L. Sires

September 25, 1951 - April 26, 2026