Don Hazelett of rural Yorktown went on to greener pastures July 19th, 2023, at Ball Memorial Hospital of natural causes and old age.
He was born November 21st l936 in Middlebury, Indiana, the son of John & Hazel (Johnson) Hazelett. His father had just coached the Middies to an undefeated basketball season in 35-36. He attended school at Campbellsburg, Metz, and graduated from Monrovia High School in 1954.
He graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Animal Science in 1958. While at Purdue he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and Gimlet activities honorary. He was Editor of the Purdue Agriculturist, a varsity Football Manager, and a member of the Purdue Livestock Judging team.
He was a long-time member of the John Purdue P Men’s club and was a football season ticket holder for nearly 60 years. Before conference expansion he had seen the Boilermakers play in every Big Ten stadium.
Don's first job out of college was as an Extension 4-H agent in Hamilton County, Indiana. In 1959 he moved to Galesburg, Illinois to become Managing Editor of a livestock breed magazine, the Poland China World. On June 25th l960 he married his college sweetheart, Barbara Buschart of St. Louis, Missouri. She taught at Galesburg High School for five years until they returned to Indiana when Don took a job with John Deere & Company.
In the late 60's Don started a purebred swine breeding operation at Marion, Indiana, and in 1987 became a Genetic Consultant with Premier Swine Breeding Systems of Michigantown, living in the rural Yorktown area.
Don served as President of the Indiana Pork Producers Association in 1970, was Vice President of the National Poland China Association, and President of the Indiana Spotted Swine Breeders. He also served on many other Agriculture and Swine industry boards.
In recognition for his contributions to the swine industry, Don received the Indiana Pork Producer’s Distinguished Service Award in 1976. He was inducted into the Eastern Indiana Livestock Breeders Hall of Fame, the National Spotted Swine Breeders Hall of Fame, and in 2014 was inducted into the Indiana Livestock Breeders Hall of Fame.
Don for 17 years was a 4-H Club leader and enjoyed working with young people and helped hundreds of them with their 4-H swine and beef projects well into his later years. He judged county, state and national hog shows all over the Midwest for over 40 years.
He served 13 years as a member of the Corporation board of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity at Purdue. He served as board President in 2006 and in 2011 was Chairman of the Planning Committee for the Fraternity's 100th Anniversary Celebration. The Alpha Gamma Rho brotherhood was a big part of Don's life.
Don was active in the Mt. Olive Methodist Church at Marion; the Congregational Christian Church in Marion, where he was President of the Deacons; the Christian Congregation Church of Alexandria, where he was chairman of the board of Trustees for several years; and the New Life Presbyterian Church of Yorktown.
Besides his wife of 63 years, Barbara, he is survived by a son John Hazelett (wife-Stephanie) and a daughter, Sherry Hazelett. Grandsons, Seth Hazelett, Jonah Hazelett and Blake Milner and granddaughters Joella Hazelett Gleason and Brittney Milner Mennen along with 5 great grandsons.
He is preceded in death by his mother and father and a brother, Jerry Hazelett of Monrovia.
Celebration of life will be in September at New Life Presbyterian Church in Yorktown, IN. Memorials can be made in Don’s honor to New Life Presbyterian Church or to Tyler Strong Purdue University Center for Cancer Research.
The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory, Washington Street Chapel is in charge of arrangements and online condolences may be sent to the family at www.meeksmortuary.com.