Donald Charles Cox, 88, of Anchorage, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010, in Anchorage.      Don was born May 1, 1922 in Hurley, Wis. to Harry and Hilma Cox. He spent his childhood working on the family farm, milking cows every morning before school. In 1941, Don joined the Air Force. His military service included World War II, the occupational forces in Japan and the Korean War. He married Helen Miller in 1944, and together they had three children. Military life sent Don and his family all over the country, and after 20 years of service Don retired from the Air Force in 1965 and made Alaska his permanent home. Don lost his beloved Helen to cancer in 1985. In 1993, he started a courtship with Pat Taylor, and the two were married in 1995.      In true Alaskan fashion, Don spent the summers camping and fishing (usually with many grandchildren in tow), the fall hunting with his sons and the winter shoveling snow. Don was a man of many talents--he was a great hunter, a master oil painter, a skillful wood worker and a pilot. But most importantly, he was a devoted husband, a caring brother, a wonderful father and an amazing grandfather, or Bumpa as he was lovingly called. To all that knew him, Don was larger than life and will be greatly missed.      Don was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Helen, his brother Ken and his step-son Dave Taylor.      Left to cherish his memory are his wife Pat; his brother Ray and wife Ellen of Mercer, Wis.; his sisters Irene Hosking, Owosso, Mich., and Mary Ann and husband Leo Sabec, Mercer; his children Warren and Janie Cox, Russ and Sharon Cox, and Dawn and Fred Deiser; his step-children MaryLee and Marvin Jones, Peggy Taylor, and Michael and Heather Taylor; 17 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.      Visitation will be held from 10 to the 11 a.m. funeral services, on Wednesday, Sept. 22, at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood,Mich.           The Rev. Paul Stolt will officiate.      Committal and interment will follow in the Mercer Cemetery, where full military honors will be accorded   by the U.S. Air Force Honors Team from the 319th Air Refueling Wing, Grand Forks Air Force Base, No. Dakota.      Pallbearers will be members of the U.S. Air Force Honors Team.      To leave a condolence, or sign the online guestbook, please visit our website at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.      Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood.