Donald Fleisher Obituary (1946 – 2022) – Mesa, AZ
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Donald Larry Fleisher, of Mesa, AZ, passed away at home surrounded by his family on Friday Febuary 18th 2022. He was 75 years old. Donald was born in Harrisburg, PA to Richard Walter Fleisher and Eliza Emily Tibbins-Fleisher in June of 1946. The middle child, he grew up with his older brother Dick Fleisher and younger brother David Fleisher. Donald Attended and graduated from Central Dauphin Highschool in 1964. He was a starting player of the Central Dauphin Rams football team as a Defensive Guard (Tackle). After high school, Don joined and served in the United States Marine Corps as a helicopter crew chief in Vietnam. During the final days of his tour, the helicopter he was flying in was shot down and he suffered a bullet wound to his shoulder. As a result, he was awarded the Purple Heart. Donald was honorably discharged from the Marines in 1969 at the rank of Corporal. Shortly after returning to the states from Vietnam, while on weekend leave from his duties at the Philadelphia Naval hospital, he met the love of his life, Nancy Carol Roden. They were married in the spring of 1969. This union resulted in the birth of two sons. Jason Fleisher and Scott Fleisher. Donald began his career as a Susquehanna Twp. Police Patrolman in 1973. In 1976 he was promoted to Detective. In 1978 he was promoted to Patrol Sergeant and in 1982 promoted to Detective Sergeant. In 1986 he was promoted to Lieutenant, serving as supervisor of Criminal Investigation, Patrol Operations and Department Polygraph Examiner. In 1998, at the age of 52, he retired from the Susquehanna PD. He had many accomplishments throughout his career such as the honor to attend and graduate from The FBI National Academy, Quantico, class of 1981. He attended Maryland Institute of Criminal Justice polygraph training 1990 and FBI advanced law enforcement polygraph training Quantico 1991. He served as a member of the first Dauphin County Arson task force, received the 1983 Dauphin County Chiefs association, non-uniformed officer of the year. Also in 1983 Don was honored with a Citation for dedication and total commitment in performance of his duties from the PA State Senate. In 1989 he received a citation for dedication and total commitment in performance of his duties from the PA House of Representatives. In 1996 he received an award of merit from the City of Harrisburg, PA. In 1998 Don performed his first deployment with the International Police Task Force, United Nations Mission, Bosnia/Herzegovina as a Human rights investigator 5/98 – 5/99. He returned to Bosnia/Herzegovina in the same capacity in 2000. In March of 2002 he deployed for a third time on the IPTF United Nations Mission in support of East Timor as a trainer/ Investigator professional standard unit, East Timor Police. After East Timor, in 2003 he deployed to Iraq. He served as a Trainer/ investigator in Najaf and then Falluja Iraq. On his last day in Bagdad, Iraq, he was on the 4th floor of the Green zone hotel when it was hit by an insurgent suicide bomber. The blast threw him across the room but he was uninjured. After Iraq, Donald returned home to PA until he moved to Mesa, AZ in 2008 at the news of his first grandchild. In Arizona, he enjoyed retirement, helping his sons, both AZ residents by this time, by doing multiple home projects and upgrades, restoring old cars, building things like a Cedar strip Canoe and figuring out gardening in the arid Arizona climate. He spent a lot of time with his grandchildren and even served as nanny of his first grandson when he was an infant and toddler. Donald was a present and engaged Husband, Father and Papa. He was completely adored by his family and friends. He was a protector, a teacher, an encourager and caregiver. He was patient, helpful, strong. He gave selflessly. He was a very hard worker, dependable, supportive, humble and honest. He was peaceful, He was a warrior. Donald enjoyed hunting the expansive woods of Pennsylvania and fishing the Susquehanna river and trout streams with his sons and friends. He was a gardener and planter of Orchards. He built things with his hands and helped friends with many projects. He will be greatly missed by the surviving members of his family; Wife Nancy, Brother David,(wife Teena), son Jason(wife Christine), Son Scott (wife Leah) and four grandchildren that became the center of his world. Services will be held on Friday, April 29th, at 1PM at Fort Indian Town Gap Cemetery, Indiantown Gap Rd., Annville, PA 17003 In lieu of flowers, we are asking for donations to Wounded Warrior Project.
Published by Patriot-News from Mar. 2 to Mar. 3, 2022.
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