Donald James Schlicht went to be with The Lord on Sunday, December 1st, 2024 at St. Joseph's Hospital South in Riverview, Florida after a lengthy illness. He was born in Watertown, Minnesota on October 18th,1956 to Dorothy and James Schlicht. He spent part of his childhood there, and a few years in Dallas, Texas. Donald was in 9th grade when his family moved to Venezuela. He returned to the United States for college where he received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Donald returned to Venezuela upon graduation and worked there until he came back to the Good 'Ole USA in 1994.

Donald was 42 years old when he met and married Sarah Livingston. He had invited her to go sailing on his Trimaran which he had built during his years in Venezuela. She was quickly impressed. A loving husband, a devout man, an honest man, a super-intelligent man, a man of many talents. When sailing days were over he took up woodworking, building many pieces of furniture for his wife, even an arbor gate with bougainvilleas.

Donald loved engineering. He worked for Curry Controls in Lakeland for over 20 years, designing control systems for water treatments plants which are being built all over Florida. Donald planned to do some consulting upon retirement and he planned to travel. But an insidious disease crept up on him and he succumbed after quite a few years of suffering, trying to find answers. Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minnesota gave us the answer in May of 2024: Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia.

Donald is survived by his wife Sarah, his stepsons Allen and Jack Hutchings, his granddaughter Olivia Hutchings, his sister Kathryn Vaughn, his Godmother Aunt Laura, his Aunt Marie, and many cousins in Minnesota. He is preceded in death by his parents Dorothy and James Schlicht and his grandson Alexander Hutchings.

A funeral Mass is scheduled for Friday December 13, 2024 11:00am at Nativity Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Ruskin Memorial Park on the Little Manatee River. All are invited to his home for a gathering afterwards.