Donald Urish

Donald Lee Urish, age 75, passed away Sunday, November 23, 2014, at the Central Utah Veteran's Home from complications of Parkinson's disease.

Don was born, August 9, 1939 in Pekin, Illinois to Howard Albert and Orvetta Smalley Urish. His earliest memories were in Illinois, but he spent most of his childhood in San Leandro, California. At the age of 14 he was baptised, along with his family, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was always grateful for the drastic improvements that the church brought to his life.

Don served honorably in the Airforce, working in air traffic control in Gettysberg, South Dakota, following which he served successfully as an LDS missionary in the Brazil North area. Through his hard work in Brazil he paved the way for the incredible growth that is occuring in that area today.

On December, 28,1965, he married his California sweetheart Jill Greenwood in the Oakland, California Temple for time and eternity.

Don graduated from his beloved BYU with a degree in Secondary Education, and taught 30 years of Spanish at Dixon Middle School in Provo. Senor Urish touched the lives of thousands of children with his love for them, his creative approach to teaching and his brave annual trips to Mexico with his students. He wanted each of his students to have the opportunity to go, despite their financial circumstances, and worked making pizzas in his time off to raise money to make that happen. OneSaturday he and his family made 500 pizzas in their home to help less fortunate students, and then went out for Chinese for dinner.

Don had a sincere love for life, and valued every moment of it. Some of his greatest pleasures were the Cougs, fishing, cooking and raquetball (he was tough to beat), but above all his family and friends. He was an amazing example of service and unselfishness, his door was always open to anyone and his family had many years of house guests living with them when people needed a home. His love was extended to many people thoughout the world, particularly the people of Cochabamba Bolivia where he served a temple mission with his wife.

He will be greatly missed by many people but especially the family that survives him; his loving wife Jill and his children Mark (Denise), Julie Moorman (Doyle), Heather Tweed (Philip) and Marci Sparks (Jeremiah) as well as 12 adoring grandchildren.

There will be a viewing at Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary (495 South State St. Orem) on Friday, November, 28th from 6-8pm. The funeral will be Saturday, November 29th at 1:00pm at the Hillcrest Stake Center in Orem (1500 S. 800 E.) with a viewing before beginning at 11:45.