AUGUSTA – Don “Nano” Lucero, born June 7, 1921, passed away Friday Sept. 16, 2022 at his Augusta home with family, at the age of 101 years, on P.O.W./M.I.A. Remembrance Day.

Don was born in Albuquerque, N.M. He graduated from Albuquerque High School, as well as the University of New Mexico with a degree in mechanics.

He joined Army National Guard in New Mexico and trained in Fort Bliss. He was sent to Fort Stotsenburg in the Philippines. He spent four years in the Philippine jungles fighting the Japanese defending our country and staying alive. Don was a three-time P.O.W. He watched the Bataan Death March from under a banyan tree, but by the grace of God was not a part of it. Don received a purple heart, bronze star, and many other awards and citations. He was honorably discharged Oct. 21,1945.

Don did some traveling, setting in Los Angeles, Calif. In the early 1980s he met the love of his life, Evelyn (York) White. She passed March 30, 2016. They had almost 40 years together. With his Evelyn by his side, he enjoyed traveling the world, every casino they could find, all kinds of outdoor adventures, home improvement projects and something more. He also tinkered with his airplanes and ultra lites.

Don was truly at his happiest anywhere, as long as he was with Evelyn and had his family around him.

Don is survived by his children Richard Lucero (Lolita, passed Nov. 3, 2014), Ivy (Lucero) Roque (Rex, passed Sept. 23, 2021), Kimberley (Lucero) Salazar (Steven), Matthew Lucero; his bonus children Richard White (Mercy), Evelyn (White) Goo, George (Mike) White, Patti (White) Gump, Carla (White) Ebube (Kingsley). He is also survived by 27 grandchildren (preceded by Joshua Lee); 29 great-grandchildren; and two great-great- grandchildren

Don’s visiting hours will be in the Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St., Augusta on Tuesday Sept. 27, from 4 to 7 p.m. His Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Church, Western Ave., Augusta on Wednesday Sept. 28 at 11 a.m. Those wishing to join Don’s Funeral Mass remotely can follow link stmichaelmaine.org/live-stream-st-mary-church. Interment with full military honors will follow in Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road, Augusta, at 1 p.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited.

Arrangements are in the care of the Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St., Augusta where condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com.

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