Donald L Kusler

Donald L. Kusler, 88, of Grants Pass, died Thursday, December 27, 2007 at The Bridge Assisted Living Facility.

Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 31, 2007 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors. Funeral mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at St. Anne Catholic Church with Fr. Peter O’Brien officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

He was born on January 4, 1919 in Artas, South Dakota to Albert G. and Anna Marie (Brom) Kusler. He spent the early years of his life in North Dakota and in 1936 graduated from high school in Wing, North Dakota. In 1937 he moved to Lompoc, California. He enlisted in the U S Army Air Corp in 1941 where he was trained as a pilot. During World War II he was stationed in England where he flew a B-17 bomber on missions over Germany. While flying a bombing mission, his aircraft was badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire. He managed to return the aircraft and crew back to their base in England, but he had been wounded doing so. He was awarded the Purple Heart and returned to the states to recuperate. He was honorably discharged on November 9, 1945. He worked for many years as a produce manager for Safeway Markets in San Francisco, California. In 1950 after having stomach ulcer surgery he moved to Grants Pass, Oregon, the home of his parents. In Grants Pass, he was employed by “Pay & Save” Grocery Store until his retirement in 1985. He moved to The Bridge Assisted Living facility in September 2002.

He enjoyed gardening and the outdoors.

Survivors include his brother, Ted Kusler of North Las Vegas, Nevada; two nephews and two nieces.