Don was born on July 12th, 1945 in Payson, Utah to Gordon B. Peirce and Naomi Louise Bird Peirce. He adored his parents and had so much love and respect for the hardships they endured and the courageous lives they lived. He attended Springville High School where he developed lifelong friendships and a strong work ethic that shaped the rest of his life.

Don grew up with an older brother, Richard; who he loved and admired greatly, and two younger sisters, Linda and Karen, who he couldn’t brag enough about. He loved his siblings with the most sincere and fierce love there is.

In 1966, Don married his high school sweetheart, Donna Snelson. Together they built a home in Mapleton, Utah, where they raised their three children–Darin, Daina, and Michael. There are not words for how much he loves his children and how proud he is of them, unconditionally.

Don had a deep love of baseball and was a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees. Baseball was more than a pastime–it was a way he connected with his family and community. He spent many years coaching Little League baseball alongside his father, where together they led teams to league, region, and state championships. These years created treasured memories and influenced countless young athletes.

Don also had a deep love for boating and being on the water, especially at Lake Powell, where he spent countless hours pulling his children on skis and tubes. He was always the first one in the water and was known as a perfect diver. Beyond the water, he had a sharp mind and a passion for trivia, with an incredible memory that impressed everyone. His children often joked that he was a “warehouse of useless information.”

Don built a long and respected career in the grocery industry, starting with Allen’s Super Save and spending the bulk of his career with Albertsons, where his hard work and attention to detail earned the admiration of colleagues and customers alike. He loved the people he served and was known for remembering every customer by name, a testament to his warmth and genuine care for others.

Don retired in 2010, completing 53 years of employment, in the grocery business. His retirement allowed him to play more golf, while continuing with an affinity for grocery stores.

In 2011, Don married Connie Rae Lamb, with whom he shared many happy years, visiting Austin, Texas and seeing singer Jerry Jeff Walker three times. They enjoyed their great friends, traveling, and spent much of their time on Day Seven docked, at Strawberry Bay Marina, creating countless memories catching Kokanee, watching the beautiful sunsets and enjoying their Knot E Dock family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Connie; children Darin (Darcie)Peirce, Daina (Mark) Stephenson, and Michael (Randee) Peirce; their mother, Donna Peirce; sisters Linda Smuin and Karen (Dave) Davis; Don’s last living Aunt, Carma Bird O’Callaghan; eleven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren; step-children, Jennifer Bennett Knight, Laena (Chris)Bradford, Lonnie Bennett, Sean (Julia Spencer) Bennett.

He was preceded in death by his parents Gordon and Louise Peirce; brother, Richard Peirce; brother-in-law, Richard Smuin; niece, Amanda Peterson; great-nephew, Alex Blair; and step-granddaughter, Scarlett Vienne Knight.

A celebration of life will be held on the 23rd of October, 2025 from 6 PM until 8 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, in Salt Lake City. Interment on Friday, October 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Springville Evergreen Cemetery, 1997 South 400 East, Springville, Utah.

Special thanks to Renew Home Health and Hospice and Valencia Memory Care CNA’s who cared for Don.

Share your photos and memories with his family at www.starksfuneral.com.

He will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew him.