Donald E. Ferkel

Donald Ferkel, a beloved husband and father, passed away on August 24th, 2024, in Catonsville Maryland. Born on January 5th, 1937, and raised in Canon City Colorado. Donald lived a life expressing compassion, love, joy, and an undeniable understanding of empathy to all he knew. Donald was the son of the late Harry Ferkel and late Bessie Mink Ferkel. He is survived by his son Delwyn Ferkel of Pasadena Maryland, sister-in-law Dorene Covell of Canon City Colorado, his nephew Kevin Covell of Denver Colorado, his two nieces Karen Brown and Linda Stone of Canon City Colorado. He was predeceased by his wife Martha Anne Ferkel of Catonsville Maryland and his daughter Greta Lynn Ferkel of Harrisburg Pennsylvania and brother Richard Covell and sister Barbara Rupp of Canon City Colorado.

Donald was raised in Colorado on a homestead located on Waugh Mountain above Canyon City Colorado. He graduated from Cotopaxi High School in 1955. He continued his education at Colorado State University located in Fort Collins Colorado. Donald graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Electrical Engineering. After graduating he moved to Maryland to endeavor his career.

He worked at Vitro Corporation, Westinghouse, and ended up at John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory where he remained till his retirement. Donald was a key player in the contracts department of APL overseeing defense and research contractors for various large projects related to radar and satellite systems. Donald was admired and respected by many of his colleagues as a team player with leadership skills that encompassed his intelligence, compassion, and care for others while still delegating authority to see projects through to the end. Donald will be missed by many as he was a true example of a person who cared for others unconditionally with no expectation of anything in return. He accepted people as they were, always seeing the good in them no matter who or where they came from. His personality was magnetic as it overflowed with patience, calmness, kindness, humor, and mostly respect and love for all he encountered.

Donald Ferkel, a beloved husband and father, passed away on August 24th, 2024, in Catonsville Maryland. Born on January 5th, 1937, and raised in Canon City Colorado. Donald lived a life expressing compassion, love, joy, and an undeniable understanding of empathy to all he knew. Donald was the son of the late Harry Ferkel and late Bessie Mink Ferkel. He is survived by his son Delwyn Ferkel of Pasadena Maryland, sister-in-law Doren Covell of Canon City Colorado, his nephew Kevin Covell of Denver Colorado, his two nieces Karen Brown and Linda Stone of Canon City Colorado. He was predeceased by his wife Martha Anne Ferkel of Catonsville Maryland and his daughter Greta Lynn Ferkel of Harrisburg Pennsylvania and brother Richard Covell and sister Barbara Rupp of Canon City Colorado.

Donald was raised in Colorado on a homestead located on Waugh Mountain above Canyon City Colorado. He graduated from Cotopaxi High School in 1955. He continued his education at Colorado State University located in Fort Collins Colorado. Donald graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Electrical Engineering. After graduating he moved to Maryland to endeavor his career.

He worked at Vitro Corporation, Westinghouse, and ended up at John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory where he remained till his retirement. Donald was a key player in the contracts department of APL overseeing defense and research contractors for various large projects related to radar and satellite systems. Donald was admired and respected by many of his colleagues as a team player with leadership skills that encompassed his intelligence, compassion, and care for others while still delegating authority to see projects through to the end. Donald will be missed by many as he was a true example of a person who cared for others unconditionally with no expectation of anything in return. He accepted people as they were, always seeing the good in them no matter who or where they came from. His personality was magnetic as it overflowed with patience, calmness, kindness, humor, and mostly respect and love for all he encountered.

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