Donald Joseph Moser was born and raised by Helen Kokott and Arthur Moser, In North Denver, 3795 Meade Street, where he lived with four brothers and one sister who he adored. At the age of five, Don was hit by a car and caught in the car crank which dragged him face down on a gravel road.  He was hospitalized, sustained serious injuries but miraculously healed completely and did not have any scarring to his face.

Don graduated from North High School in 1941 and began college at the University of Denver, known to the locals as "Tramway Tech", because many students commuted from home using the tram. Like so many of his peers, Don was drafted at age twenty-one in WWII and served in the Anti-aircraft artillery battalion in Asia Pacific campaign. He was promoted to sergeant and reported to officers as an administrative assistant while he was stationed in the Philippines. After the war, he returned to complete his studies at DU on the GI bill. While in chemistry class, Donald was infatuated with Jean Kunse, the smartest girl in the class and asked her if he could clean out her test tubes. They began dating and although there were religious differences, Don married Jean Eleanor Kunse in 1948, at St. John's Catholic Church in Denver. However, Don's in- laws could never get past the Catholic religion because they were Lutherans.  Jean converted to Catholicism and raised the children Catholic. They had a wonderful marriage for 74 years!

When Don and Jean were first married, they moved to Portland, Oregon for their first jobs as a teacher and nurse respectively.  After two years, they had experienced enough of the upper west coast rain and relocated back to Denver.  Instead of teaching, Don decided to try his hand at selling insurance, but ended up feeding the ducks at Washinton Park most of the days. Because of this, he was convinced that he wasn't much of a salesman, and applied to the Denver Public Schools where he taught science to a tough crowd at Westwood Junior High on the westside of town and then transferred to Kepner Junior High. Donald always took pride in being the family provider and not only worked as an educator but worked nights as a teacher at the Federal Correction Center in Denver for twelve years.

As the young family grew to four children: Gregg, MaryEllen, David and Annie, Jean stayed home to raise the children and went back to work when they were older. Donald valued his family and as an involved parent would be home as much as he could to be with the family.  The family looked forward to summer months which brought great vacations and fond memories.

Don was transferred to South High School as a biology and chemistry teacher and in 1960 opened Thomas Jefferson High School as an assistant principal in charge of curriculum and scheduling. He spent many years at TJ, where all the children attended as well. He often referred that time period "the golden era of public education".  In 1969, forced busing was mandated throughout the Denver schools where black students were assigned to traditionally white schools and white students were bused to black schools in order to hopefully create a more quitable educational opportunities.  However, in the short term it created unrest and turbulence throughout the Denver school system.  Later, Donald was promoted to principal of Manual High School and dealt with the realities of busing, but as a dedicated educator enjoyed the challenge of his assignment.

After thirty-five years, Don retired from the DPS, and they enjoyed their friends, parties, travel, volunteering and plenty of babysitting the grandchildren.  They went to Europe and visited such countries as Ireland, England, France, Spain, Germany, Greece and Poland. They traveled to Africa, to visit Gregg, a Chemical Petroleum Engineer in Nigeria several times, went to Kenya for a Safari as well as other countries for more adventures. Later, they traveled stateside with their group of friends and colleagues.

The Moser's were active parishioners at Most Precious Blood for over sixty years and volunteered for several ministries. Don worked tirelessly with the St Vincent De Paul Society by counseling families in need and finding assistance for food, clothing, transportation, and other basic necessities. The Moser's attended the Sunday Gathering where they developed dear friendships and later formed a coffee group that lasted for over 30 years!

Don survived Jean and remained in his home where he died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 101 with family around. He is survived by his 3 children: Gregg Moser, MaryEllen (Jeff) Hansen, Annie Dalton, 9 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.

May his kind and gentle soul rest in peace.

His memorial service will be held on Friday, January 10, 2025 at 10:30am at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, 2200 S. Harrison St., Denver, CO 80210.