Donald L. Theurer

Donald L. Theurer went to be with the Lord and his loving wife, Thelma, on December 9th 2022. He was born April 26, 1921 in Jay County, Indiana to Mathias and Pearl (Baldauf) Theurer.  He graduated from Madison Township High School in 1939 as class valedictorian.   After joining the US Army Air Corps in November 1942, he spent one year in training and two years in the ETO where he was attached to XIX Corps headquarters as a radio operator.  In 1948 he graduated from Tri-State University with high honors and was later awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award.  After working four years for Zenith Radio, he joined Magnavox in 1953 and retired in 1986 with thirty-three years service in Engineering and Management.  He was a lifelong Lutheran and since 1971 was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne.  He was also a member of The Air Force Association and of the American Legion Post 82.  On April 30, 2021 he was recognized in celebration of his 100th birthday and his military service in WWII by Indiana Representative, Hon. Jim Banks, when his name was read into the U.S. Congressional Record.  His hobbies were golf, genealogy and woodworking.  One of his woodworking projects was to design and build grandfather clocks so that each of his grandchildren would have a Theurer built clock.  His loving wife of nearly 65 years, Thelma Mae, preceded him in death on October 8, 2010.  His parents and brother, George, also preceded him in death. He was a loving, devoted husband, father and grandfather.  He is survived by three children; Philip (Linda) of Mechanicsville, VA, Gregory (Phyllis) of Seattle, WA and Marla (Roger) Reece of Winston Salem, NC.  Also surviving are five grandchildren; Kelly (Mathew) Martineau, Brandon (Stephanie) Theurer, Kendra (Phillip) Atkinson, Winston Reece and McKinnon Reece, three great granddaughters, Ruby and Stella Martineau, Ella Atkinson and three great grandsons, Tristan Atkinson and Wyatt and Ezra Theurer.  Services will be conducted at the Williamson-Spencer and Penrod Funeral Home, 208 N Commerce St., Portland, IN. Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 14th , 2023 at the funeral home.  A brief service will follow at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at the funeral home.  Burial will be in the Salamonia Cemetery at Salamonia, IN with American Legion honor guard.  A memorial service will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church, 7211 Stellhorn Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana on Sunday, January 15th , 2023 at 2:30 p.m.  Family will be receiving guests starting at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 15, 2023 at the church.  Memorials to Messiah Lutheran Church Memorial Fund to be used at their discretion.