Donald Norbert Jurgensmeyer, age 83, of Edinburg, Virginia, passed away on September 24, 2026, in Edinburg, after a two-year battle with cancer. He was born on February 18, 1943, in St. Elizabeth, Missouri, to the late William C. and Irmine A. (Schwaller) Jurgensmeyer.

Donald grew up on a dairy farm in the St. Elizabeth community, where he was often called on to help neighboring farmers put in their crops — hauling square hay bales into barns, building concrete silos poured by hand from a small mixer, and filling silos with silage and ear corn for the cribs. He attended all twelve years of school at St. Elizabeth R-IV School, graduating in May 1961.

That July, Donald enlisted in the United States Navy, beginning a 35-year career of service. He served aboard several ships and at naval bases including Great Lakes, Illinois; Morocco; Madrid, Spain; Jacksonville, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; Norfolk, Virginia; Mayport, Florida; Miami, Florida; San Francisco, California; and Naval Air Station Dallas, Texas, where he also spent several years as a recruiter. He retired from the Navy at NAS Dallas holding the rank of Command Master Chief, the highest rank attainable by an enlisted sailor — an achievement he was deeply proud of. Following his Navy retirement, Donald continued serving his country as a civilian, working for the Military Postal Service Agency in Washington, D.C., where he helped ensure Naval personnel received their mail during the Iraq-Afghanistan War.

In 2011, Donald became a member of St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Woodstock, Virginia, where he devoted much of his time in retirement to serving others. He served as an usher and as the parish's Hotline Coordinator for its Outreach Program, volunteered as a driver for the Veterans Administration in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and served as coordinator for St. John Bosco's participation in the Family Promise Program of Shenandoah County — a ministry, along with the church's Outreach Program, that was especially close to his heart.

Outside of his volunteer work, gardening was Donald's passion, and he loved to travel and to spend time with fellow veterans, sharing stories of their years of service. He was remembered by those who knew him as kind- hearted, friendly, and always glad for the company of others — a determined man with a good sense of humor.

Donald is survived by his wife, Carol Jurgensmeyer, of Edinburg, VA. He was previously married to Barbara Reed, who preceded him in death, and to Patricia Fosberry. He is also survived by two sons, Brian Jurgensmeyer of Jefferson City, MO, and Thomas (Sheila) Jurgensmeyer of Moncks Corner, SC; and a daughter, Kerry Jurgensmeyer Devaney of Charleston, SC; as well as stepchildren Susan (Russell) Hebert, Michael (Bonnie) Reed, Gregory (Michele) Cross, Jeffrey (Kimberly) Cross, and Brett (Michelle) Cross. He is further survived by his siblings, Janice Holtmeyer of St. Charles, MO, William J. Jurgensmeyer of Jefferson City, MO, and Patrick Jurgensmeyer of O'Fallon, IL, along with many nieces and nephews.

Donald is also survived by grandchildren Claire Jurgensmeyer and Thomas M. Jurgensmeyer Jr.; great- granddaughter Colette Anderson; step-grandchildren Sarah Hebert, Joseph Hebert, Caleb Reed, Daniel (Sabrina) Reed, James (Arquette) Reed, Carolina Reed, Rosemary Reed, Samuel Reed, Robin Reed, Sara Cross, William Cross, Liam Cross, Aiden Cross, August Cross, Lyle Cross, and Eloise Cross; and step-great-grandchildren Mason Reed, Emreigh Reed, Sydney Reed, and Adeline Reed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William C. and Irmine A. Jurgensmeyer; his brothers, Edward, Anthony, and Ronald Jurgensmeyer; his sister, Susan Jurgensmeyer; and his former wife, Barbara Reed.

A funeral mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, October 3, 2026, at St. John Bosco Catholic Church, Woodstock, Virginia. Mr. Jurgensmeyer will be laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be announced.

The family will receive friends at Stover Funeral Home and Crematory in Strasburg on Friday, October 2, 2026 from 4 – 6 PM.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy be in the form of memorial donations made in Donald's name to St. John Bosco Catholic Church, Woodstock, VA, or to a charity of one's choice.

You may submit your Condolences to the family online at www.stoverfuneralhome.com.

Stover Funeral Home and Crematory, Strasburg, VA is honored to serve the family of Mr. Donald N. Jurgensmeyer.