Donald E. Abel, 91 of Tekonsha went home to be with the Lord and his wife Betty Jean on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at his home peacefully surrounded by his family.
Mr. Abel was born on April 14, 1926 in Tekonsha to Elmer and Gladys (Hastings) Abel. He attended Tekonsha Schools, and enlisted in the United States Navy when he was 17 years old. He received his diploma from Tekonsha High School while serving in the military. Mr. Abel served in the American, European, and Asiatic Pacific Theatres during World War II. On March 15, 1954 he married Betty Jean Eisenhunt Stiebeling in Tekonsha. She preceded him in death on June 4, 2014.
Mr. Abel worked for the United States Postal Service for 13 years and he retired in 1988 as a letter carrier. He also worked for his father when he returned home from the service at Abel & Son's Meat Market in Tekonsha. He also worked a short time for the Calhoun County Sheriff Department, Don Moore Meats in Homer, Federal Mogul in Coldwater, Coldwater Regional Center and Clark Equipment in Jackson. He was a member of the Maple Grove Bible Church, Masonic Washington Lodge #7 of Burlington and Tekonsha, the Coldwater American Legion Post #52, the DAV Chapter #7 of Battle Creek, and the United Commercial Travelers. He enjoyed his pets, traveling with his wife, and playing cards with his friends.
He is survived by three sons, John (Jeanette) Stiebeling of Auburn, Indiana, Mike (Cathy) Stiebeling of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Richard (Mary) Abel of Tecumseh; three daughters, Roberta "Bobbie" (Charles) Stemaly of Tekonsha, Rosalee Abel-Blackburn of Tekonsha, and Cindy (Randy)Thompson of Burlington; numerous grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Family will greet friends on Friday, January 12, 2018 from 4-7pm at the Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Service Marshall Chapel 723 US 27 North. Funeral service will take place at 1:00 pm on Saturday January 13, 2018 at the Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Service Marshall Chapel with Pastor Bill Cole officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery Tekonsha. Memorial contributions are requested to Maple Grove Bible Church. Assistance with memorials is available at the Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Service.