Donald Mitchell Kaihatsu, 73 years, died January 16, 2025, after illness. He was the son of Rose M. Kaihatsu and the late Omar Kaihatsu. Brother of Jane Kaihatsu, Ed (Jean) Kaihatsu, Nancy Kaihatsu and Anne Kaihatsu. Uncle to Kenji, Anjolie and Malia Kaihatsu. Don was born in Chicago, IL on April 17, 1951and grew up in JeRerson Park and Park Ridge, IL. He graduated from the Chicago Public School Beaubien School and attended Lane Technical High School for one year before the family moved to Park Ridge, IL. He graduated Maine South High School in 1968 and received a B. A. in Music from Northern Illinois University, 1972.

After college, Don worked for the Carl Fischer Music store in downtown Chicago in the band and orchestra department. Don then went into insurance and became a commercial lines underwriter for Continental Insurance and then Zurich Insurance Co., from where he retired. His passion was music, especially playing the French Horn. Don was active in the Nisei Ambassadors, an all-Japanese-American drum & bugle corps in the 1960s-70s. He was always involved with youth and taught various marching bands in area high schools and was a drum corps instructor for decades – instructing the Illiana Lancers, Pioneer, Phantom Regiment, Phantom Regiment Cadets, Southwind, Mandarins, Colts, and Bandettes. He was awarded a Volunteer of the Year by the Drum Corps International in 2002 while with the Pioneer drums corps.

A memorial service or Celebration of Life is pending.