Donald Joseph DeLee

Nov. 28, 1936 - Sep. 7, 2011

MISHAWAKA - Donald Joseph DeLee went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 10:15 a.m. at the Center for Hospice House in South Bend. He had been ill for several years with renal failure.

Don was born to Joseph and Mary (Goegebeur) DeLee on November 28, 1936 in Mishawaka. Mary died two weeks later from complications of childbirth. Donald lived with his grandparents, Pharielda and Raymond Ardeel until Joe married Ruth Schlarb in 1941 and moved to South Bend. They have all preceded him in death. In 1959 he met his future wife, Sandra Michele at Dodge Manufacturing. They were married on June 27, 1964 in South Bend.

Don and Sandy have lived in Mishawaka all of their married life and have three children and five grandchildren; Douglas DeLee of Mishawaka and his children, Megan, Connor and Dannielle; Dr. Steven and Stacy DeLee of Noblesville and their children, Madelyn and Gavin and a daughter, Andrea and Armando Risi of Tampa, Florida.

Don graduated from John Adams High School in 1955. He enlisted in the Indiana National Guard in 1957 and served until 1963. After high school, he enrolled in the Tool & Die Apprenticeship program with Dodge Manufacturing in Mishawaka and continued working in the Tool Room as a Tool & Die Maker, Foreman and Superintendent of the Tool Room until Dodge Reliance was sold and the Tool Room was closed.

Don worked for several other machine shops and ended his employment career by working with special needs children as a Program Assistant through School City of Mishawaka.

From the SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE, September 9, 2011:

04/07/2021 DEC