Obituary: Klemmer, Donald L.
A loving partner, father, grandfather, brother and friend, he spent many years volunteering and giving back to the community of Lind, WA, his life-long home.
Donald was born to Arthur and Evelyn Klemmer in Lind on July 3, 1935.
He was the second of five children.
His dad was an athlete and he wanted to be just like him.
Luckily for Donald, he was a natural.
He was a star pitcher as early as the 7th grade when he played Junior Legion Baseball.
He pitched 90 miles per hour, threw several no-hitters and was one of the only freshmen to play on the varsity team for both baseball and basketball.
His specialty on the basketball court was his hook shot and he took pride in leading the Lind Bulldogs to victory.
Throughout high school, Donald worked in the summer at the Washington State University Dryland Experiment Station.
After graduation from Lind High School in 1954, he began working there full time.
It was during the height of draft days and Donald accepted the call from the U.S. Army in 1958.
He married Mary Ann Davis the same year and was stationed in Korea during the Cold War.
Throughout his service in the Army, Donald enjoyed taking on his fellow soldiers in the boxing ring.
While it was all just for fun, he didn’t like to lose and once beat a well-known championship boxer.
He served near the DMZ for more than a year and was honorably discharged after two years of service.
Donald returned home and went back to work at the Dryland Experiment Station in Lind.
He was blessed with the birth of his two daughters, Lisa in 1964 and Julie in 1968.
That same year he hired on as a petroleum truck driver with the Lind Grange Supply and joined the Lind Volunteer Fire Department where he served for 43 years - many of them as Fire Chief.
For more than 30 years, Donald enjoyed a myriad of adventures with his soulmate, Violet Holland.
He continued his commitment to giving back to the community of Lind.
He coached and umpired Little League Baseball in Lind for 25 years.
He coached high school girls and boys basketball and many AAU girls’ basketball teams over the years - including his daughter’s team - Don’s Darlings.
Donald co-founded and played on the Men’s Softball League in Lind, was a member of the Lind Float Association, served as a Deacon at Good Hope Lutheran Church and spent 12 years on the Lind School Board of Directors.
He retired from Lind Grange Supply in 2008 after 40 years of service.
Donald cared about people.
He had a great sense of humor and loved to tease those he loved, including his daughters - Lisa and Julie.
Donald was extremely proud of his family, especially his grand- children.
He loved lifting weights every morning, going a round with his speed bag and threatening to kick someone’s butt if they messed with the people he loved.
He was a man’s man.
Donald’s handshake and his word were as good as gold.
He gave selflessly to those he loved and always had a soft spot for the underdog.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Evelyn Klemmer, his sister Donna Tenneson and his brother Dewayne Klemmer.
He is survived and will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by his long-time partner, Violet Holland of Lind; his daughters, Lisa Kelly (Doug) of Spokane and Julie Giger (Terry) of St. Jacob, Illinois; stepson Jeff Holland (Raschelle) of Spokane and stepdaughter Julie Holland of Spokane; grandchildren Kirsten Poltervart (Codey), Kevin Kelly, Donny Fuhrhop, Callie Fuhrhop, Grace Kaplicky, Jake Kaplicky, Tanner Marecz, Jarod Marecz and Rennon Dickerson; brother Dennis Klemmer (Marlene) of Moses Lake, sister Artis Klemmer of Colfax, four nieces and nephews and 12 great-nieces and nephews.
We feel blessed to have had Donald in our lives for 79 years and look forward to the time we’ll see him again in Heaven.
A Celebration of Donald’s Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2015 at the Good Hope Lutheran Church, 120 W. 3rd St., Lind, WA.
Interment will be held at the Lind Cemetery followed by a reception and Celebration of Life at the Lind Fire Station.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Lind Volunteer Fire Department.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville, WA.