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Donald William Kuester served as a Sunday School Superintendent at [[New Hampshire Avenue Gospel Chapel, MD|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:
"The tragic loss of the atomic submarine USS Thresher with 129 persons aboard on April 10 brought in its wake an audience of about one thousand to hear the Gospel preached at memorial services April 21 for one oi the victims
of the disaster, Donald W. Kuester. In the audience at the Memorial Chapel of Maryland University (where Donald
Kuester had done post-graduate work) were the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, U.S. senators and representatives, admirals and other high ranking government and military officials. John Smart spoke on I Peter 1:3-4, and was assisted
in the service by David Kirk and Phil Clarkson.
Donald Kuester was aboard the submarine, on its fatal 8,400 foot plunge, as senior engineer and chief of the acoustics
and electronics division, Naval Ordnance Laboratory, White Oak, Maryland. At the memorial services Captain Odening, Commander of the U. S. Naval Ordnance Laboratory, read the official statement of the Navy; and Dr. Hartman, Technical Director of the Laboratory, presented the civilian, engineering, and personal aspect of Mr. Kuester's twenty years of
service. Mr. Kuester’s work had been designed to save lives; he had received citations and awards for meritorious service, and his accomplishments had resulted in patents favorable to the Federal Government. The impression of his good testimony was further evidenced by the many messages sent of sympathy and appreciation.
For twenty years Mr. Kuester was in happy fellowship with Christians meeting in the Chillum Heights Gospel Chapel, Washington, D. C. Here he served effectively as Sunday school superintendent, and contributed much good counsel on the plans for the new chapel presently under construction in nearby [[Maryland]]. The Gospel Chapel in Atlantic, Iowa,
where Mr. Kuester had grown up, was overcrowded for a second memorial service held there May 5. Cal Lindeman and Phil Clarkson directed this service.
Mr. Kuester’s consistent, godly life and outstanding accomplishments present the challenge of Hebrews 18:7, "whose faith follow,” with the practical assurance of I Timothy 4:8 that “godliness is profitable unto all things.”
==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 [[New Hampshire Avenue Gospel Chapel, MD|Chillum Heights Assembly]], Washington, [[District of Columbia|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=
* [[Maryland history|History of Some Assemblies]] by Robert L. Peterson
* Light & Liberty: 1963-6;