Donald McGue Obituary

76, of Mililani passed away on January 1, 2024 at Straub Medical Center in Honolulu. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio to the late Ralph L. and Mary McGue and honorably served over 24 years in the United States Air Force.
Don is survived by his wife of 52 years, Hsiu Lan; daughter, former Captain Linda (Brad) Mitchell; son, David (Maria) McGue; brother, James E. (Marge) McGue; granddaughters, Alexandria and Victoria; and nieces, Lisa and Misty. He was predeceased by his parents; sister, Ruth Vick; and nephew, retired Air Force Major Perry F. Vick.
He graduated from the class of 1967 at Westlake High School in Westlake, Ohio. By the age of 20, he answered the call to duty and served his country with distinction-- first as an Air Force meteorologist, working around-the-clock to analyze atmospheric pressure changes and forecast the ever-changing weather patterns across the Pacific and European theaters. As a sergeant, he earned the opportunity to cross-train into medical resource management and garnered numerous accolades as "Outstanding Performer" for several base-wide inspections.
Don enjoyed the opportunity to travel the world while raising a family. His favorite aircraft were the McConnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and the Lockheed SR-71 "Habu" Blackbird: he occasionally took the wife and kids to the edge of the airstrip at Kadena Air Base, while the SR-71 took off overhead, with full afterburners: Don was rather amused as the whole car started to shake, gradually increasing in intensity, through heavy vibrations from the top-secret reconnaissance plane-while the family trembled, laughed and covered their ears. Don enjoyed watching the crazy "polar-bear people" jumping into Lake Huron during the winter, glass-bottomed boats and beautiful coral reefs, learning to scuba-dive off the Sunabe seawall, Obon drummers in cherry blossom parades through Nago, water skiing at Okuma, castles and pubs in the United Kingdom, and monster waves crashing upon the North Shore of Oahu.
Don was NCO of the Year at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan and was honored as Best Medical Administration Specialist in the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). His hard work and numerous accolades so inspired his superiors that they created a new position especially for him at Headquarters PACAF at Hickam AFB, where he proudly retired from active duty in 1992 with the rank of Master Sergeant.
Following his distinguished military career, Don continued his invaluable contributions as a MEPRS Administrator through the U.S. Army at Tripler Army Medical Center, and volunteered as a tour guide aboard the U.S.S. Missouri. He later provided direct patient care as a kidney dialysis technician at the VA Medical Center until his recent retirement in 2020.
Don was a lifelong philanthropist who supported the American Red Cross, USO and victims of the Maui wildfires. He enjoyed leisurely walks around Mililani Mauka and was a big fan of the Cleveland Browns.
Burial with honors will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe.
Arrangements Provided By: Oahu Mortuary