ROCHESTER — Donald E. Pfeiffer, 97 years, 10 months and 14 days, departed this life on Jan. 21, 2018, at Life Care Center of Rochester. He set his sights on his new heavenly home, rejoicing to be reunited with his beloved Donabelle and his family that has gone before.
On March 7, 1920, in Nappanee, Donald Edwin Pfeiffer was born. He was a treasured son of Clarence Edwin and Myrtle Hanes Morwiser Pfeiffer. As one of eight siblings, growing up he shared his childhood with five sisters and two brothers.
Don Pfeiffer and Donabelle Eizinger were classmates attending Tippecanoe High School. It was during their sophomore year that they first became acquainted. The summer prior to their senior year a mutual admiration became apparent. Don served his class as president during his junior and senior years. With great pride they graduated together with their class in May 1938. They continued to date while she attended Warren Beauty School in Fort Wayne, graduated and apprenticed in Elkhart and Warsaw.
Prior to church, at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, 1939, in Tippecanoe, the home of their minister, Pastor John Burgess, was the setting where Don married his best friend and the love of his life, Donabelle. They spent the day traveling and sightseeing in Chicago, then returned home to Bourbon that evening. The happy couple honeymooned in Niagara Falls for their second-year anniversary. This was just prior to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and the beginning of World War II. Their union of nearly 74 years produced a beautiful daughter and two handsome sons. Over the years three more generations were added to the family tree.
For nearly 66 years the Pfeiffers lived in Newcastle Township and the Rochester community. The Pfeiffer family farm encompassed 1,000 acres planted in corn, soybeans, wheat, oats and peas. There were up to 75 registered Holsteins to milk, seven or eight Black Angus, a few pigs, and a variety of geese and chickens. One year they enjoyed the company of some 4-H lambs. In 1960 the milking operation ceased, so the primary focus became the grain operations. Each year the family put out a huge garden that consisted of vegetables, flowers and strawberries. The autumn brought on a bountiful harvest with Donabelle heading the freezing and canning department, making jams and jellies and preserving the produce for winter's use. They also shared with many special friends.
A man of great faith, Don was a devoted member of Bethlehem Baptist Church since 1948. He held multiple positions of leadership through the years, including nine years as Sunday school superintendent; deacon, six years; trustee, 12 years, then returning to many of these positions to help guide the church. He was past president of the Men's Fellowship of the Logansport District of the American Baptist Church. Don was always there to contribute with sweat equity with his tractor, mower and bucket. He also assumed additional farming to help pay for some of the churches’ needs over the years.
Making many contributions to our community, Don was an REMC board member from 1964 to 1994, past president of the Farmers Institute and Newcastle Farm Bureau (1948 to 1956) and later served as secretary/treasurer. He served the Fulton County 4-H members as president for a decade; during his tenure two new buildings were built. Don was also a Farm Bureau Co-op Board and Pure Bred Livestock Board member and a charter member of Talma Lions Club.
The Pfeiffers were wonderful, ardent community supporters through the decades. From 1944 to 1963, Don was courtside of the Talma Tigers basketball team as the scorekeeper and statistician. They were always there for their children, grandchildren and the "great-grands’" athletic events, music programs and concerts. Don and Donabelle were avid Zebra season ticket holders. Attending community dinners and visiting the 4-H Fair were events they enjoyed. In recent years they could be seen all about town dining out.
As patriarch of the Pfeiffer family, Don was always there to share his love and wisdom, and give advice supporting the five generations he oversaw with his loving wife, Donabelle. Together this dynamic duo, the true epitome of a gentleman and lady, set the BEST example for family, friends and acquaintances to follow: a fairy tale life of nearly 74 years of love, dedication and devotion, sticking together as a team through the good times and some tough times, too. They always had a smile and exhibited a positive attitude as they persevered through each day. This amazing couple were admired by all who had the luck to become acquainted with them.
Left to cherish Don's memory are a daughter, Randy Hartman (husband Reg), Warsaw; two sons, Wally Pfeiffer (wife Terri) and Mike Pfeiffer (wife Maureen), all of Rochester; and eight grandchildren: Ed Pfeiffer (wife Wendy), Bill Pfeiffer (wife Staci) and Jody McCall (husband Matt), all of Rochester; Tammy Davis (husband Ray) and Chad Hartman (wife Heather), all of Warsaw; Cary Hartman (wife Michelle), Akron; Christina Sears (husband Jeff), Cicero; and Alison Pfeiffer, Rochester. He was blessed with 15 great-grandchildren, two stepgreat-granddaughters and two great-great-grandchildren. Two sisters, Betty DeMein, North Manchester, and Joan Tharp (husband Bob), South Bend; two sisters-in-law, Nanette Eizinger, Rochester, and Marge Pfeiffer, Homosassa, Fla.; a brother-in-law, Keith Miller, Elkhart; and several nieces and nephews also survive.
Preceding Don in death were his parents, Clarence and Myrtle Pfeiffer; beloved wife Donabelle on Aug. 5, 2013; a great-grandson; three sisters: Marilyn Miller, Doris Grass and Helen DeMein; two brothers, Gene Pfeiffer and Lamar Pfeiffer; a sister-in-law, Jean Pfeiffer; and a brother-in law, Fred DeMein.
A celebration of the life of Donald E. Pfeiffer will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26, in Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 West 18th St., Rochester. Pastor Phil Pratt will officiate.
Friends may visit with the family from 4 to 7 p.m. today, Jan. 25, and one hour prior to the service Friday in the funeral home.
Don will be laid to eternal rest next to Donabelle in Rochester IOOF Cemetery.
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Memorials to Bethlehem Baptist Church, 7106 E 600 N, Rochester, IN 46975; or the donor’s choice.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to his family at www.goodfamilyfh.com.
