Donald Lee Beitz

DONALD LEE BEITZ, 83, passed away Monday, Dec. 14, 2015, at home, surrounded by his wife and family. Born May 11, 1932, in Fort Wayne, he attended Emmanuel Lutheran School and Elmhurst High School, class of 1950. He served in the US Army, stationed in Germany. A 1961 graduate of the Mechanical Engineering program at Purdue, Don was the owner and sole employee of LeeLine Machine after employment with General Electric, Magnavox and PHD. Don was a devoted husband to Carolyn, wonderful father of five daughters and grandfather of 10. He faithfully served his church and gave generously of his time due to the involvement of his family in Girl Scouts and 4-H. He was often helping his girls with delivery on their News-Sentinel paper route, a job Don also held as a boy. Don is joyfully remembered as a perfectionist with a passion for life, and even after his debilitating heart attack in 1989, he always had a joke and loved to exchange pleasantries with friends and strangers alike. He started most days singing "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" and each daughter and grandchild yearly received a sung telephone rendition of "Happy Birthday" that would always make them smile! He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Carolyn (Fleming); daughters, Annette (Gary) Buuck, Cara (Chris) Ratay, Marla (Bill) Plaehn and Rachel (Steve) Sosinski; 10 grandchildren; and sister, Leslie Beitz McCarthy. He was preceded in death by daughter, Sharon Beitz; mother, Velma Knake Beitz; father, Herbert Beitz, sister, Lois Kaiser; and brother, James Beitz. Celebration of life is 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 21, 2015 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 917 West Jefferson with visitation one hour prior. Visitation also from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015 at the church. Memorials may be made to Emmanuel Lutheran Church or Heartland Hospice. Arrangements by Klaehn, Fahl & Melton Funeral Home.