Donald Gene Giacomo

Donald Gene Giacomo, 98, peacefully passed away at his Springville, Utah home on Friday, October 30, 2026, surrounded by his loving daughters and family members. Don was born on November 20, 1927, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Jack Giacomo and Annie Rose Miller. He graduated with honors from South High School, also in Salt Lake City, where he served as a student body officer and played basketball, tennis and golf. When he ran for student body office, his supporter jingle was “Vote for Jock, he'll support you!” Don's nickname, “Jock”, was born and would be endearingly used by friends and family for decades to come. Following high school graduation, Don would attend the University of Utah, where he would receive varsity letters in tennis as a freshman and golf the following three years. He was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, where he formed countless lifelong relationships. Shortly following graduation from the University in metallurgical engineering, Don and his high school and college sweetheart, Marlene Peacock, were married on November 23, 1949. Don immediately began his 35-year professional career at Geneva Works of US Steel in Vineyard, Utah, eventually as Engineering Supervisor. Employment at Geneva Steel was the catalyst for Don and Marlene purchasing a home in Provo, Utah, just east of the Brigham Young University campus at the base of the beautiful Wasatch mountains. Over the next 10 years they would become the proud parents of 4 girls; Gay, Joy, Merry and Bonny. Don continued his love of golf and tennis as a founding member of Riverside Country Club in Provo, serving as a member of the Board of Directors and an officer of the club. He would win the club golf championship and as a club officer, would establish Riverside Country Club’s first Junior Golf program and coordinate the addition of tennis facilities to the club.

In 1966, after a hard-fought battle with cancer, Marlene, tragically left Don and his four daughters, ages 6 to 14. Don would endure Marlene's passing with the support of family and friends and would remarry 4 years later to Colene Lee Larson, a fellow employee of Geneva Steel and a lifelong resident of nearby Lehi, Utah. Colene would adopt each of Don and Marlene's children and would lovingly mother and raise the four girls with Don. The new family would relocate to Springville, UT. When Don retired from Geneva Steel, he and Colene enjoyed many years with their children, their 15 grandchildren and now 40 great grandchildren. During frequent family gatherings Don would often rhetorically inquire, “Am I partially responsible for this?”, the growing brood, after which he would begin laughing at himself. Don enjoyed his retirement years with Colene, his daughters, their husbands (each of whom he treated as the son he’d never had), and his grandkids and great grandkids. He continued in earnest with golf, tennis and gardening (one of Colene’s hobbies) and enjoyed having a home in St. George and a home in Hobble Creek Canyon that he and Colene helped design and provide construction supervision. He finally made his long awaited, much anticipated, hole in one at Dixie Red Hills GC’s 6th Hole on February 19, 2015. Don loved to travel (Colene did not), so he would mostly travel with golfing buddies, his daughters and their husbands. As a proud Italian American, Don finally returned to his native Italy on a family cruise in 2018.

Don and Colene were faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The family was sealed together in the Provo City Center temple on August 30, 2019. Colene passed away of natural causes at age 88 on April 20, 2021.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, beloved wives Marlene Peacock and Colene Lee, his siblings Betty Damron and Mick Giacomo and his grandson, Bryan Terry. He is survived by his brother Alan Giacomo, daughters Gay (Jody) Good, Joy (Jeff) Duke, Merry (Craig) Hitchcock and Bonny (Jon) Groneman in addition to 15 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, each of whom love him.

The Giacomo family is grateful for the professional and loving care provided by in-home and remote doctors, nurses and technicians, including Canyon Home Care & Hospice and Heather and Ava Jackson.

A Memorial Service will be held in Don’s honor on Friday, November 6, 2026, at the LDS Chapel, located at 878 W Center Street in Springville, Utah at 11 a.m. Prior to such, friends and family are invited to gather and pay their respects at a Viewing from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The interment will occur following the Memorial Service at Eastlawn Memorial Hills Cemetery in Provo, Utah.