Don was born on October 14, 1916 in Idaho Falls, Idaho to William Charles Lortz & Anna Cobia Lortz. He was the youngest of three children and spent most of his growing up years in the Idaho Falls area.

During the early years of his life when school was not in session, he and his father spent a good portion of the summer months in the Salmon area, living in a tent while fishing, hunting, and panning for gold. During these carefree summer months he developed a great love for the Salmon River Valley. He attended schools in Idaho Falls, and worked for his father in the family business, Idaho Falls Sheet Metal Works (est.1918), located on the corner of Broadway & Memorial Drive in downtown Idaho Falls.

One of his early adventures as a young man came when he left home and moved to California to work in the Naval Ship Yards. He enjoyed the several years he spent in California; however due to the failing health of his father, Don returned to Idaho Falls in 1944 to help in family business. Shortly thereafter Don purchased Idaho Falls Sheet Metal Works from his father. He continued operating the business at the Broadway location for many years until he realized the need for additional space for the growing business. In the mid 1950's he purchaed property north of town on what is now Anderson St. in Idaho Falls and started construction in 1956 of a much larger facility. Idaho Falls Sheet Metal Works operated at two locations until 1959 when the Broadway location was vacated and all fabrication shop equipment and workers were moved to the new Anderson St. location.

During the early 1960's, Don changed the focus of the business from sheet metal work to fabricating equipment for the many potato processing plants that were springing up around Southeast Idaho. The name of the business soon changed to Idaho Falls Steel Products, and was later shortened to the current name Idaho Steel Products, Inc. What began as a small manufacturing company supplying equipment to a few potato processing plants in Southeast Idaho grew to a company supplying similar equipment to processing plant throughout the world.

After several decades "growing the business", Don decided that he wanted a new adventure in his life . In the early 1980's he left the daily running of the business to his trusted employees and moved to the Big Island of Hawaii. Don loved his home in Hawaii and spent the next several years creating a new chapter in his life. Although his business continued to flourish during his absence, he eventually returned to Idaho Falls in 1987 to plan to prepare for full retirement.

Don sold the business in 1991, retiring at the age of 75, and moved from Idaho Falls to the area he had loved in his youth, Salmon, Idaho. He spent the next fifteen years developing friendships in Salmon, reading and learning about the several topics that he was fascinated with, which included the early history of the railroads and the cultures of far-away countries. he remained in Salmon, until his death on January 13, 2007.

He is survived by his three sons, James Leroy Lortz, of Salmon, William Carl Lortz, of Thousand Oaks, California and David Craig (Jenny) Lortz of Fortsville, New York; two grandsons Darol Lortz and Russell Lortz, and one granddaughter, Dianna Lortz. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Virginia, a brother, Charles, his wife, Mae, and his oldest son Don Robert.

The family will visit with friends from 5-7:00 p.m. Sunday, January 21, 2007 at Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First St. Idaho Falls, and from 6-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at the Don Lortz residence, 725 Keith St. in Salmon, Idaho.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Eastern Idaho Technical College, 1600 S. 25th E. Idaho Falls, ID 83404 or to the Idaho Youth Ranch P.O. Box 8538, Boise, ID 83707 or at www.youthranch.org, or a donation to the charity of your choice. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.coltrinmortuary.com