Donald J. Vigue

9/9/1934 — 2/6/2016

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Donald Joy Vigue, 81, passed away peacefully Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, at the Idaho State Veterans Nursing Home in Lewiston. He was born to William H. Vigue and Emily Vigue Salsman on Sept. 9, 1934, in Orofino, and was the youngest of seven children. Don loved his family, fishing, writing poetry and country music. He sang and played guitar around the country and dreamed of making it big. He had several careers and traveled to many places around the world.

Don, "Sonny," grew up in Bovill and enlisted in the U.S. Navy when he was 17 years old. He was assigned to the USS Renshaw for three years. When he returned home, he spent time working alongside his older brothers, Bill and Pete Vigue, logging in Idaho and Montana, and was part of the Clearwater River Log Drives between 1956 and '58. Don enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his country for 21 years. He served three tours in Vietnam and multiple tours stateside and in Europe. During his military career, he received several awards for valor and service to his country. Upon retirement, he had achieved the rank of chief warrant officer (CW-3). In 1979, he and his family moved to Heidelberg, Germany, where he worked for A.M. General Corp. and later Oshkosh Truck Corp. until he retired and moved back to his beloved Idaho in 1994.

Don married his surviving wife of 44 years, Charlotte Steward Vigue, on May 19, 1972. He is survived by his daughter, Leeann Vigue Esser and husband Kevin of Coeur d'Alene; son James Allen Vigue Sanneman of Bowling Green, Ohio; sisters Opal Vigue Anderson of Deary and Geraldine Vigue Hall of Moscow; five stepchildren; 11 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will always remember the twinkle in his eye as he told stories or sang songs around the campfire. We're left with both humorous and heartfelt poems he'd written throughout the years and for that, we'll be forever grateful. You served your family and country well. Rest in peace, soldier.

No services will be conducted, and cremation will take place. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project.

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