Don, KB8LWL, a Net Control Operator for the District Net for many years, became a Silent Key on Saturday, 11 September. In addition to his active participation with the West Central Ohio Amateur Radio Club, he was an also a member of the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management EMCOMM Team. he will be sorely missed.
The following information was provided by his Son-in-Law, Mark, KC8TZY:
CHELMAN, Donald Ivan KB8LWL, 77, of Riverside, OH became a “silent key” on Saturday September 11, 2021 after a long battle of respiratory illness. He was born on November 16, 1943, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to the late Melvin and Edith (Johnson) Chelman.
He graduated from Long Prairie High School in 1961. He enlisted in the United States Army immediately after high school. After his initial training, he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan where he met Donna Lewis, the love of his life and his future wife. They married on June 27, 1964, in Hesperia, Michigan.
The couple decided to make Dayton, Ohio their home. He became a firefighter for the City of Dayton Fire Department and rose to the rank of Lieutenant. After twenty-five years of dedicated service, he retired from the department.
He was an active member of the West Central Ohio Amateur Radio Association. He enjoyed genealogy, motorcycles and anything associated with his grandchildren.
Surviving him is his wife of fifty-seven years, Donna (Lewis) Chelman, his children Kirsten (Mark) Buell of Beavercreek, OH, Dawn (Jeff) Kilpatrick of Miamisburg, OH, John (Shelley) Chelman of Riverside, OH and Scott (Amy) Chelman of Mason, OH. He is survived by his thirteen grandchildren: Hannah, Noah, and Luke Buell, Emma, Katie, and Angie Kilapatrick, Christopher, Laura, and Lexi Chelman, Myles Gotcher, Will, Sam, and Mary Grace Chelman. He is also survived by three sisters Jan (Rick) Steuck of Ham Lake, MN, Betty (Junior) Barthel of Browerville, MN, and Kathy Chelman of Roberts, WI, and one brother Lenny Chelman, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother Carl Chelman.
In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in Don’s name to the American Heart Association, American Lung Association or the West Central Ohio Amateur Radio Association. A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date. Please e-mail donnachelman@outlook.com for details.
Contributions in Donald’s memory may be made to American Heart Association, https://www.heart.org/en/affiliates/ohio/dayton;
American Lung Association, https://www.lung.org/research/sota/city-rankings/msas/dayton-springfield-kettering-oh;
and West Central Ohio Amateur Radio Association, http://wcoara.info/.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.tobias-fh.com for the Chelman family.
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/dayton-oh/donald-chelman-10353075