Obituary of Donald F. Ebarp

Donald F. Ebarp died on April 27th 2011 in Colorado Springs, CO. He passed peacefully, comforted by the presence of his wife, daughter and son-in-law. Don married in 1954 and is survived by his wife, Maryelln; son, Erik; daughter, Kristin; son-in-law Charles Stenborg; and his sister, Mildred Pearson of Rockford, IL. Donald was born March 15, 1926 in Rockford, IL to parents Esther and Patrick Ebarp. Don attended Rockford schools, leaving Rockford East High School at age 17 to join the US Navy. He served as a Radioman during WWII, after graduating from the Great Lakes Naval Academy. Assigned to the Shangri-La aircraft carrier on its maiden voyage to the Pacific under the command of Admiral Nimitz, it was there that Don witnessed the end of WWII.By the age of 20, Don returned to Rockford a WWII veteran. He completed his High School certificate there under the new GED program and then enrolled at the University of Illinois where he attained a Bachelors Degree in Recreation and then a Masters Degree in Recreation Administration. Don utilized his advanced education in a variety of ways. In Wisconsin, he administered camps - Manitowish and Clearwater. Then he was the Director of Recreation for a Milwaukee school system. Later, he was the Director of the YMCA Boys Home of Iowa. Following that, he became the Administrator for the Lakeside Children's Center in Milwaukee.By the mid 1960's Don switched careers, becoming involved in the financial world. He first worked at Merrill-Lynch, Pearce, Fenner, and Smith. There, he pioneered the Government Securities department. Then he moved on to the firm of Kidder-Peabody. After that, he joined the Marshall & Ilsley Bank as an Investment Banker and he retired from there as a Vice President. Upon retirement, Don began his own investment business, overseeing asset management for small Midwest banks and private investors.Don never neglected his recreational interests pursuing a variety of sports throughout his life, winning trophies in bowling, golf and sailing. He was an active member of the Milwaukee Yacht Club, where he started the J24 Fleet. Don was an accomplished bridge player, an actor, an avid photographer, and intrepid traveler. Don was also Treasurer for the Foundation for International Cooperation, and was a member of the Swedish organization, VASA. A long-time member of the International Institute, Donald and his family regularly hosted high-level dignitaries from around the world.A memorial service will be held for Donald at the Unitarian Church North in Mequon, WI at a date to be determined. There, he had been a choir member and was also the President of the board. His ashes will later be inurned at Arlington National Cemetery.Funeral Home:The Springs Funeral Services3115 East Platte AvenueColorado Springs, , COUS 80909 Events Service Monday, May 2, 2011 12:00AM The Springs Funeral Services 3115 East Platte Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80909 Phone: 719-207-8855