Donald Dale Kissick, age 95, a resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away at Hedrick Medical Center under the care of Saint Luke’s Hospice the morning of July 10, 2026. Donald was 1 week shy of celebrating his 96th birthday.

Donald was born on July 17, 1930, at the hospital in Chillicothe Missouri. He was the youngest of 9 siblings born to Orin William Kissick and Mary Ellen “Nellie” (Colton) Kissick. At the age of 24, Donald married Mary E. Minnis on September 10, 1954. They were blessed with five children who were born during this marriage of 28 years. Donald then married Norma Leah (Sargent) Streiff on March 3, 1986. Eight children joined the family with this union. Don and Norma were blessed with 37 years together.

Donald (Don) or “Buck” as he was known for years, lived in the Avalon area except for the time he spent in the service. He earned the honor of Eagle Scout and graduated from Avalon High School in 1947. In February 1948, he enlisted in the Air Force. He was stationed at Lackland AF Base in San Antonio, Texas for eight weeks of basic training and then was sent to Chicago for mechanic training on heavy equipment. He was assigned to Erding, Germany for thirty-three months as a vehicle inspector during the Korean war. He stated that even though he was in the Air Force he never flew in a plane for the war. He didn’t have to do any fighting and said that his duties were not hard to perform. He was able to have European travel adventures and experiences while overseas with his Air Force buddies. He returned to the states to finish out his four years of service in vehicle inspections in Harlingen, Texas. He was honorably discharged in 1952, and returned home to marry and farm the Kissick homeplace in the Avalon, Missouri, area.

Donald was a grain and livestock farmer for approximately thirty-five years until selling the Kissick homeplace following his divorce. He was an active family man. He enjoyed attending all the school events that his children participated in. He served on committees for the Avalon Methodist Church, Fairview Township Board and the Livingston County Fair Board. He was a 4-H project leader as well as an adult leader for the Avalon Busy Bees 4-H Club. After selling and moving away from the farm, Donald was a bus driver for nine years for the Verelle Peniston State School and worked at John Deere in customer service for four years before retiring.

Donald was proceeded in death by Norma (December 2023), Mary (September 2022), his parents, brothers, Harold, Earl, Ralph, Lloyd, Charles (Lee) and Howard. one sister, Ruth Wheelbarger; an infant sibling; a son, Jerry Leon Kissick; stepchildren, Greg Streiff and June Cramner, step grandchildren, Phillip Esposito, David Streiff and Jeff McCoy; and great grandson Carson Clevenger.

Surviving are children, Ellen Kay Kissick of Chillicothe, Gary (Cindy) Kissick of Dearborn, Ann (Chris) Zumbrunnen of Concordia, Larry Kissick (Sherry) of Bogard, and daughter-in-law, Bev Kissick of Chillicothe;ten grandchildren; Galen (Kelly) Broyles, Jeremy Kissick (Michelle Brunscher), Heidi Broyles, Stefanie Kissick (Jason Martin), Jerry Kissick Jr., Jamie (Ryan) Clevenger, John Kissick, Mathew Kissick, James (Amber) Zumbrunnen and Rachel (Zach) DeBusk; twenty-three great grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren.
Surviving on the Streiff side are Pat (Lee) Swearingen, Pamela McCoy, Marilyn (Steve) Clay, David (Mary-deceased) Streiff, Allen (Laurie) Streiff, Louanne Danner (Gene Toner) twenty grandchildren; forty-one great grandchildren; and fifteen great-great grandchildren. Grandpa Don was the only grandpa that they knew.

Funeral services will be held at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. A scheduled visitation will be held at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, on Saturday, July 18, 2026, one hour prior to the service at 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. Friends may call at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, on Friday, July 17, 2026, from 12 noon until 4:30 p.m. Burial will be held at Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Chillicothe, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to Avalon Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.