Donna Mehl

Donna R. Mehl, 66, of Shelby, passed away Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at home surrounded by her family, after a year-long, courageous battle with cancer. She was days shy of her 67th birthday. Born in Portland, Wisconsin she moved to Ohio in 1966. She worked for 13 years on the Mansfield Police Department as a Meter Maid. She also spent a short time as an auxillary officer on the Shelby police department, as well as a dispatcher for the Crestline Police. She loved her family in blue! She also worked many years at Ted & Ali’s Café, where she was adopted by the Sagle Family as one of their own. Well-known in the 70’s and 80’s on the CB radio as “The Squaw”, perhaps best known for her ear-shattering whistle ~ so loud, strong and proud that the Clear Fork Football team knew when she was there, and she was THEIR “whistling mawmaw”.

On August 3, 1974 she married the love of her life, Carl Mehl, who preceded her in death in 1997. She joined him in time to celebrate their anniversary, which would have pleased her greatly.

Donna is survived by a daughter, Kim Loveland; a step-daughter, Laura King; a step-son, Carl “Marty” Mehl; and her adopted daughter, Chantil Vandayburg. Her world was her “grandbabies” and she was “Mawmaw” to them all. They are Chelsea Loveland (Gary Fisher), Cody Loveland, Tommy O’Leary and Alicia (David) Dechert; three great grandbabies, Trevor O’Leary, Hayliegh Tucker and the reason she fought this demon so hard, Aubree Fisher. The middle of 10 children, she is survived by five sisters, Yvonne Gerlach, Phyllis (Richard) Perrin, Bea (Chuck) Catanzaro, Arlyce Manning and Clare (Bob) Sklodowski; four brothers, Ellsworth Erickson, LaVere (Dee) Fisher, Sonny Erickson and Dennis Erickson. She is also survived by her two best friends, Joe and Diana Billotte and her ex-husband and dear friend, James Westbrook. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her infant son, Eugene Arnold in 1964.

The family wishes to give special thanks to Dr. Exten and his group.

Friends may call from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, August 6, 2011 at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Road, Ontario. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home following visitation at 3:00 p.m. Saturday conducted by Rev. Mary Ann Short. Memorial contributions may be made to Harbor Light Hospice, 2312 Village Park Court, Ontario, Ohio 44906 or to the Richland County Humane Society.