Donald J. Chelemen

Died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Sunday, August 16, 2015, from the effects of a stroke suffered earlier that week. Beloved husband of Patricia. Loving father of Sue Lin (Peter) Andres, Robert Wesley (Kitty) Chelemen and David Chelemen. Dear grandfather of Michael (Joanne) Andres, Laura (Scott) Draper, Lisa (Parker II) Salowich, Tina (Robert) Beck, Tracy (Val) Baruzzini, Anthony (Helen) Chelemen , and Nicholas and Mia Chelemen.

Cherished great -grandfather of Raymond, Matthew, Margaret and Joseph Andres, Brooke and Michael Lafayette, Grace and Isabella Chelemen, Jacob Gillette, Parker III and Charles Salowich, William and Anna Draper. His first great-grandson Daniel Byron predeceased Mr. Chelemen in 2014.

Mr. Chelemen left LPHS to join the United States Navy in 1941. He served in the Pacific on a tanker refueler ship and returned home in December 1945. An only child, Don married his high school sweetheart, another only child, Patricia Jean Reed on January 12, 1946. They would have celebrated 70 years of marriage next January. These “two kids were very proud of the family” that grew from their love.

Mr. Chelemen was involved in the Lincoln Park Little League, the Boy Scouts of America and at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Lincoln Park on the vestry and as a lay reader. He entered the retail drug store business as a buyer and warehouse manager for Cahalan Drug Stores in Wyandotte, Michigan. He later worked for Cunningham Drugs for many years. At the end of his career he was a manufacturer’s representative for Teitle & Associates based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He retired in 1990 and always said that “ if he had known he was going to live so long, he would have gotten another job”. Mr. & Mrs. Chelemen travelled the United States extensively in their motor home for the first 10 years of retirement. In 1999 they moved to Florida where they lived until the time of his death.

Visitation will be 5-8pm Friday, August 28 at Weise Funeral Home, 7210 Park, Allen Park (313-382-1150). Memorial service will be 10:30am Saturday at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 1325 Champaign, Lincoln Park. Inurnment will be at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan.

Memorial Contributions may be directed to St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church or St. Dunstan Episcopal Church, 1088 126th Avenue, Largo, Florida.