DONALD E. HOWELL, age 83,
Of New Bremen, died on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at 1:28 P.M. at the Joint Twp. Dist. Memorial Hospital in St. Marys after a period of declining health. He was born on December 27, 1937 in rural New Knoxville, the son of the late Clyde L. and Wilma L. (Keack) Howell. On May 23, 1959 he married Janice A.B. Wiehe, who survives in New Bremen, and together they shared 62 years of love and devotion. Also surviving are his children: Carol (Mike) Swackhamer of New Bremen, Jenine (Terry) Humphries of St. Marys, Rick (Julie) Howell of Botkins, Mark (Teresa) Howell of Wapakoneta, Scott Howell of New Bremen, and Kay Makley of St. Marys. Also left to cherish his memory are his 17 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren, and his sisters Karen Bower of Sidney, and Cheryl (Fred) Eads of Wapakoneta. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son Bobby Donald Howell, a daughter in-law Brenda Howell, a grandson Andy Makley, and a great-granddaughter Alivia Fraley.
Don was a 1956 graduate of Jackson Center High School. He was a member of the St. Paul United Church of Christ in New Bremen, where he had formerly served as a Deacon. He met Janice at a teen dance at the fairgrounds; the two fell in love, and spent the rest of their lives dancing together. They took the family on many camping adventures over the years which created many funny stories and cherished memories. He was a man who lived life to the fullest; constantly keeping busy with his many hobbies including: collecting and fixing antique clocks, collecting and fixing small engines, making hand-made wooden toys, woodworking, and attending various tractor shows with his Wheel Horse tractor as a member of Buckeye Farm Antiques and Farm Power of the Past. He also enjoyed playing cards, and watching his sons race their cars at the drag strip or participate in a demolition derby. As his dementia progressed, he especially enjoyed the daily golf cart rides around town. He had worked for seven years at the ODOT garage in Sidney before leaving for a machinist position at Minster Machine where he worked for 35 years as “Donny the New Guy” before his retirement in 1999. He will always be remembered for his quiet and gentle ways, his love of his grandchildren and great grandchildren, his fondness of his dogs, and for his never ending sweet tooth.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Paul United Church of Christ in New Bremen with Rev. Becky Erb Strang officiating. Interment will follow in the German Protestant Cemetery of New Bremen. Friends and family may call prior to the services on Saturday, from 9:00-11:00 A.M., at the church. Memorial contributions in memory of Don can be made to the Grand Lake Hospice (1122 E. Spring Street, St. Marys, Ohio 45885), the New Bremen Police Department (214 N. Washington Street, New Bremen, Ohio 45869), or to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org). The family is being assisted by the Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen, and online condolences to the family may be left at www.gilberghartwigfh.com.
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Alice Hartwig says
December 8, 2021 at 6:21 pmJanice and families, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to you. May your fond memories bring you much comfort.
Marilyn Sommer and family says
December 8, 2021 at 7:27 pmMy sympathy and prayers for you Janice, and all the family as you deal with your loss. Being next door neighbors for 25 years, we came to know Don as a quiet, peace-loving man who liked to keep busy. Remembering the good times will bring you comfort and peace.
Raymond Johnson says
December 9, 2021 at 9:14 amI am sorry to hear of your loss, my condolences to family and friends
Wayfair says
December 9, 2021 at 2:55 pmSo very sorry for your loss. Such a sweet man. Prayers and hugs to Janice and our family.
Tedd Wittenbrink says
December 9, 2021 at 4:00 pmJanice,
So sorry to hear of Don’s passing even thoughI know he had struggled for a long time.
In times of loss I always seem to go to a specific scripture for comfort and am offering it to you as you and all of those Don loved. Hopefully this wonderful promise will give you som comfort.
Revelation 21. 1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,l and there was no longer any sea.
.2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain
Marilyn Garcia says
December 9, 2021 at 6:45 pmOur sincere condolences go out to Janice & all family members on Don’s passing. It was a long road home for him; may he truly rest in peace! From cousins: Joe/Marilyn Garcia; John/,Carolyn Hudnall, Jean/David Ott, Doris/Steven/Linda/Will Cottrell, Elaine Dulebohn & families 12/9/21 Cridersville
Rhonda & Barry Gill says
December 11, 2021 at 9:27 pmOur heartfelt condolences for you and your family. Don was a dear, sweet man. Lots of great memories.