Maxwell Donald Streaker

On May 25, 2024, Maxwell “Don” Streaker passed away in his home surrounded by his family.  He was 80 years old.

Don was born on April 22, 1944, to Maxwell “Butch” Streaker and Amelia E. “Mimi” Streaker. Butch was stationed in Saint Petersburg, Florida, during World War II, and, after the war, he moved his family to Columbus, Georgia, before moving to Miami in the early 1950’s.

A 1962 graduate of Christopher Columbus High School, Don attended the University of Miami, majoring in Finance.  His education was interrupted when he joined the military but he returned a decade later to graduate from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin.

In 1966, Don enlisted in the United States Air Force where he attained the rank of staff sergeant working as a weather observer.  He spent a year at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea before being honorably discharged from active duty in 1970.

His banking career began when Don joined Southeast First National Bank of Miami as a teller.  During the next 40 years, he would go on to work for Barnett Bank and First National Bank of South Miami, before retiring from Independent Bankers Bank of Florida in 2010.  During his career he worked with many banks and bankers in the southern half of Florida; he wore many hats in his career and worked his way to a Vice President position.

In 1972, while working at Southeast, Don met his wife, Karen. They married in 1974, had two children and celebrated 50 years of marriage in April.  They settled in South Dade County where they remained until after his retirement to relocate to Vero Beach, Florida, in 2013.

Don was a well-known participant in his community.  He was active in Miami Lakes Rotary Club before transferring his membership to the Rotary Club of South Miami, where he served in many capacities including President; he was named a Paul Harris Fellow and earned a Lifetime Service Award.  He served in the Greater South Dade South Miami Chamber of Commerce (now ChamberSouth) as Chairman in 1992-1993 after Hurricane Andrew devastated the homes and businesses of much of its membership.  He was also a member of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Miami Lakes Business Association, American Heart Association, and served on the campaign cabinet for United Way of Dade County.

Literally a man of many hats, as a teen, Don owned a quarter horse and competed in barrel racing. After college, he earned his pilot’s license.  He was an avid Amateur Radio operator (WA4MSU) for over 50 years and a member of the Amateur Radio Relay League for 40+ years.  He enjoyed playing golf and traveling with his wife and family in their RV for 25 years.

Don was a loving and faithful husband, father and grandfather.  He leaves behind his wife Karen, son Scott and daughter-in-law Carolyn, daughter Traci Janschutz and son-in-law Val, and his grandchildren Hannah and Hunter Janschutz and Max Streaker.

A Committal Service, with military honors, will be held at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery on June 18, 2024, at 12:30 p.m.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Intergenerational Recreation Center, 1590 9^th Street SW, Vero Beach, Florida, on June 19, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.