Clem Donnell

DONNELL, Clem, A loving family says goodbye to Clem Donnell after 94 fulfilling years. Born to a large family in southeastern Ohio, he moved as a young man to the Dayton area and found his home. He enlisted in the Navy and found himself thrust into duty on the Tennessee when Pearl Harbor was bombed. During leave in New York City, he met the love of his life Joanne Swanson and after a whirlwind courtship, they married a year later on December 7. After serving in the Navy, he returned to Dayton where he and Joanne settled and began to raise a family and start a business. A natural entrepreneur, Clem began his own plumbing company in a little shop on the same corner as their house on Carlisle Ave. so that Joanne could be nearby when the kids came home from school. Donnell Inc. grew to become one of the largest commercial plumbing companies in the Dayton area thanks to Clem's strong work ethic and commitment to customer service. His greatest professional pride was installing all of the processing piping and equipment for the Cargill plant. When Clem retired, he and Joanne moved to their dream home on Sanibel Island, Florida where he loved to fish, play golf and spend time with many dear friends. They later moved across the bridge to Fort Myers and finally back to Dayton to be close to family. Some of Clem’s finest moments came on the golf course where he shot five holes in one and found himself in a foursome with American hero Neil Armstrong. He was a proud member of the Dayton Masonic Center and an Antioch Shriner. Clem lost his dear Joanne in 2013 after 70 years of marriage but life continued to be filled with family and friends. Clem is survived by his daughter Carol and her husband Steve; son Ted and his wife Karen (Wintrow); Grandchildren Todd Elson and wife Kristen, Marcy Elson and Lucas Donnell; great-grandchildren Nik, Madison, Mallory and Eian Elson and Megan Fitzsimmons. The family will greet friends at TOBIAS FUNERAL HOME- FAR HILLS CHAPEL, 5471 Far Hills Ave. at Rahn Rd. Dayton, OH 45420, Thursday, January 14, 2016, from 5:00 to7:00 pm followed by a funeral service at 7 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Honor Flight Dayton, Inc, 525 Victory Road, Springfield, OH 45504. Condolences can be expressed to family at www.tobiasfuneralhome.com. “This Was No Ordinary Life. This Was A Life Well-Lived And Well-Loved, A Life That Will Be Deeply Missed.”