COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado — United States Army Command Sergeant Major (retired) Donald Edward Spear III, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2026 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was born on May 13, 1949 in Belfast, Maine to Donald E. Spear Jr. and Jane Fossett Spear.

Donald graduated from Belfast Area High School in 1967 where he ran track and played in the band. He was the fourth generation to work for the New England Telephone company before enlisting in the Army. Donald devoted much of his life to leadership, service, and proudly served his country with a distinguished 34-year military career.

During his years of service, Donald served in the 82 nd Airborne Division. In 1994, he participated in the 50 th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy as a paratrooper. His career took him to many places including Vietnam, Korea, and the Persian Gulf during Desert Storm. He rose through the ranks to ultimately serve at the highest enlisted level in the Army as Command Sergeant Major (E9). He had numerous military medals and awards.

Following his military retirement in 2001, Donald continued a career at Memorial Hospital North in Colorado as Assistant Director in Radiology. Outside of his professional life he was referred to as Trapper or Donnie. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, and cousin and those who knew him will remember him for his practical jokes, love of Pemaquid Beach, plants, his musical talent playing the organ and trumpet, love of Elvis, riding motorcycles with Travis and love of history. In 1974, he was part of a local band called Concentrated Stuff with members Denny Jackson, Tim Hazeltine, John Hunt, Rich Drinon, Sam Ladd, and John Dunham.

Donald is survived by his wife, Donna (Sniger) Spear of Colorado Springs; his son Travis Spear and wife Jessica of Pensacola, Florida; his son Finn Moulton and partner Cher of Belfast; his brother, Ronald Spear and wife Millie of Belfast; his sister Catherine Holland and husband Glenn of Belfast; brother-in-law Jay Gilpatrick of Belfast; special cousin, Lauri Mclean and husband Deane of Belmont; and other in-laws, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Cynthia Gilpatrick. 

A military graveside service will be held Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 11 a.m., at Belfast Grove Cemetery, 262 Belmont Avenue, Belfast, Maine. Military honors will be rendered by the Army Military Honors Unit and the Belfast VFW. Please join us for a reception immediately following at First Baptist Church, 95 High Street, Belfast, Maine.