Don Ray Roepke

Don Ray Roepke (aka "Lightning") was born on December 31, 1937, to Malinda (Roeder) and Lawrence Roepke. He grew up in the Elmore/Graytown area and graduated from Elmore High School in 1956. In high school he played football, basketball and sang in the chorus. Don married Susan Myers, his high school sweetheart, in 1957 and they had one daughter, Cynthia. His first job was at the Woodruff Hatchery in Lindsey, Ohio, where he saved up enough money ($3000) to buy his first new car, a navy blue 1956 Chevrolet convertible. He worked at Brush Wellman for 30 years as a chemical operator and later as the senior final inspector. He also worked for Myers Funeral Home and as an ambulance driver. Later he owned and operated the Myers Furniture and Floor Covering store in Elmore, Ohio. Don was a charter member of the Jaycees in Elmore and helped roast the ox every year at the annual festival. His favorite hobbies were cooking, barbequing, and following Cleveland Indians baseball and Ohio State football. Don lived in Fremont, Ohio, for several years prior to becoming a resident at Harborside of Perrysburg in June 2000. During his stay at Harborside, he served many years as president of the Resident's Council and enjoyed the activities with residents and staff, especially playing cards, bingo, and outings to Mudhens games. His favorite pastimes were listening to music and visiting with many of his '56 classmates who kept in touch. Don was preceded in death by his brother, Vernon (aka "Lefty") P. Roepke. He leaves behind daughter, Cynthia, and her husband, Stacey Cromer, of Graytown, Ohio, sister-in-law, Marjorie Roepke, of Lindsey, Ohio, and niece Kathy (John) Spanfellner, of Danville, Ohio. He has three grandchildren, Carolyn (Clayton) Shatzel, Samuel (Lindsey) Melden, and Ted (aka "Donny Thunder") Melden and two great-granddaughters, Norah Faythe and Aliyah Joy Melden. Friends are invited to call from 2-8 P.M. Tuesday at Crosser Funeral Home, Oak Harbor, Ohio, where funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday. Pastor Paul Miller of the Oak Harbor Alliance Chapel will officiate, and interment will follow in Harris-Elmore Union Cemetery, Elmore, Ohio. Following the services, family and friends are invited to Cynthia's home for a time of fellowship and refreshment. In lieu of flowers, Don's family suggests memorial contributions to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research or to a charity of the donor's choice. Funeral Home: Crosser Funeral Home - Oak Harbor Chapel 301 N. Locust Street Oak Harbor, OH