Thursday, July 26th, 2012
Donald Vander Horst
Donald J. Vander Horst Sr., 87, died at 10:30 p.m. July 24, 2012, at Lima Memorial Hospital.
He was born Nov. 17, 1924, in Celina to Herbert and Ruth Desch Vander Horst. On June 9, 1951, he married Bernice "Ben" Schmitz, who died July 7, 2012.
Surviving are three sons, Donald (Jan) Vander Horst Jr., Celina, Kurt (Nancy) Vander Horst, Celina, and Jay (Annette) Vander Horst, Milford, Mich.; three daughters, Debby (Doug) Myers, Dublin, Karol Halm, Dublin, and Judy (Mark) Sichterman, South Lebanon; a sister, Shirley Simon, Fort Loramie; 16 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Deceased are a brother, Robert; two sisters, Norma Schmitz and Marilyn "Rusty" Monroe; and a son-in-law, Steve Halm.
He was a 1942 graduate of Immaculate Conception High School, Celina, attended Amherst and Lafayette College and was a 1950 graduate of Bowling Green State University. He was a lifetime member of BG Club and a brother in the Chi Phi Fraternity.
He served in the U.S. Army during WWII and was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Celina, Mercer County Elks, Celina American Legion and Disabled American Vets.
He was retired from Mersman Tables, where he had worked from 1950 to 1989, including as executive vice president, general manager and CEO. He was president of Mersman subsidiary Waldron Furniture of Waldron, Ark., and past president of National Furniture Manufacturers Association.
He was a past trustee of the Celina Chamber of Commerce, elected member of Celina City Council, a central committeeman for the Celina 4th Ward and general chairman of the Combined Charities.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church. Burial is at a later date.
Calling is 2-6 p.m. Sunday and 9:30-10 a.m. Monday at Cisco Funeral Home, Celina.
Contributions may be made to Celina Athletic Booster Club or Immaculate Conception Church.
