Donald William Kuester

Donald William Kuester served as a Sunday School Superintendent at New Hampshire Avenue Gospel Chapel in Silver Spring, Maryland where he was in fellowship for the last twenty years of his life, before drowning in a sunken submarine while in special service for the U.S. Navy in 1963.

Letters of Interest memorial

• 1963-6: High Officials Attend Memorial For Thresher Christian by Lloyd W. Wineberg

Light & Liberty memorial

Donald William Kuester 1921-1963

"Our esteemed brother, Donald Kuester, went suddenly to be with the Lord while in special service with the Department of the Navy as Senior Engineer and Chief of the Acoustics and Electronics Division, Naval Ordnance Laboratory, White Oak, Maryland. At the time, April 10, 1963, he was on duty aboard the Submarine USS Thresher which sank in some 8,400 feet of water in the Atlantic about 225 miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with all 129 personnel aboard. As of April 23, the sunken submarine had not been located. He is survived by his widow, Marion (nee Robertson), daughter Linda 13, and two sons, Donald 11 and Bruce 7, of Hyattsville, Maryland, and his mother, Mrs. Frank Kuester of Stuart, Iowa.

It is somewhat unique that the name Atlantic was involved both in his birth and his death: birth in Atlantic, Iowa, and death in the Atlantic Ocean. Don began in early life attending assembly Sunday School in Iowa and was saved there. For the past twenty years he was in happy fellowship with Christians meeting in Chillum Heights Assembly, Washington, D.C.. Here he was again in Sunday School, this time as superintendent. While thus serving, attendance increased and children were led to the Savior. In addition, Don had much responsibility also with the chapel presently under construction in nearby Maryland, especially determining the size of building, its style of architecture, and interior finishing.

Don graduated from Iowa State University and did post-graduate work at the University of Michigan and later at the University of Maryland. Hence, in searching for a building of sufficient size for the Memorial Service in his honor, it was fitting that the Memorial Chapel of Maryland University was obtained. Memorial services were conducted on Sunday afternoon, April 21, by brethren John Smart, David Kirk, and Phil Clarkson. Bro. Smart brought a timely message from 1 Peter 1:3-4 to a large audience including U.S. Senators and Representatives, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Admirals, and other officials of high rank. Bro. Robert Crawford who performed the Robertson-Kuester marriage ceremony sixteen years ago was present with the family by special request. It is estimated that over a thousand persons heard the good Word of God showing the basis of Don's faith unto salvation: begotten unto a lively hope, an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven.

Captain Odening, Commander of the U.S. Naval Ordnance Laboratory, White Oak, Maryland, read the official statement of the Navy and Dr. Hartmann, Technical Director of the Laboratory, presented the civilian, engineering, and personal aspects of Don's twenty years of service. Each spoke of Don's achievements as a Government servant and his peace-time contributions to the Government. Commendable again, yet strange the end, Don's special work was designed to save life. Hence, in reality, he gave his life that others may live. He received citations and awards for meritorious service and his accomplishments resulted in patents favorable to the Federal Government.

The many letters, telegrams, and messages, one from the President of the United States, and the number of persons in attendance at the memorial service gave abundant evidence of the effect of his good testimony, the high esteem in which he was held, and the special ability God had given him which he had so devotedly used. He crowded much into a short lifetime but his work being ended, the Lord took him quickly to his reward and the inheritance 'reserved in heaven' for him.

In the words of 1 Samuel 20:18, already used by the brethren for inscription with his floral tribute, we say again with deep affection: Thou Shalt Be Missed. His consistent, godly life and outstanding accomplishments present the challenge of Hebrews 13:7 to young and old, 'whose faith follow' with assurance from the practical view of 1 Timothy 4:8 that 'godliness is profitable unto all things.'"

Sources

• History of Some Assemblies by Robert L. Peterson
• Light & Liberty: 1963-6;