Donald Fitterer age 81 died on May 15th 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Donald was born on December 11th, 1936 to Joseph and Eve Fitterer in New England, North Dakota until their move to Yakima, Washington where he spent most of his youth. Upon graduating from Yakima’s Marquette Catholic High School Don set his sights on seeing the world, and joined the United States Air Force. Don’s last Air Force base station assignment was in Homestead, Florida. While stationed at the air base he attended a base held dance where he met his survived wife Patricia Fitterer (Mahoney). Don and Pat decided to take up roots in Miami, Florida post his discharge from the Air Force, and obtaining a job with National Airlines, which later became Pan American Airlines and finally Delta Airlines via mergers. During his time in Miami he started a family with Patty with son Richard Fitterer of Miami being born first with daughter Barbara Zitz who now resides in Atlanta, Georgia to follow soon after. Don was a devoted family man, and was an active school volunteer and parishioner at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Miami Shores, Florida. He was an avid Miami Dolphin fan, and season ticket holder who was witness to the 17-0 season with his son by his side. His other devotion was being involved with the USTA where he was an avid supporter of his daughter’s love of competition tennis. At the core of his family life was wife Patty, as partners they forged their way between sharing two working class paychecks to provide for their children private school, and college educations. In their spare time they enjoyed traveling and socializing with close family and work friends with their favorite events being the annual National Airlines Christmas Party and summer barbecue party on Key Biscayne’s Crandon Park Beach. Upon their arrival to Atlanta with Delta Airlines, Don became a devoted grandfather to his grandchildren Jordan, Cameron, Shannon, and Patrick. Unfortunately the Alzheimer’s disease that he had been battling for years progressed to the point that he never got a chance to meet, and know his two-year-old great granddaughter Emerson McBroom. Don leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Patty Fitterer, and is survived by his son Richard Fitterer (Jerri), grandsons Jordan McBroom (Katie), and Cameron McBroom-Fitterer; his daughter Barbara Zitz (Doug), grandsons Shannon Zitz, and Patrick Zitz; his brother Frank Fitterer, and sister Viola Fisher; numerous nieces and nephews from his siblings; and his closest friends from his time in the Air Force and working for National Airlines; Geri and Dave Cunningham, Ty Faulkner, David Sims, and Jimmy Richardson. He is predeceased by his brother Louis Fitterer, and sisters Clara Hubba, and Tillie Duchsherer.
Visitation will be held this Saturday, May 19th, 2018 from 12-2pm, followed by a memorial service at 2pm at Haisten Funeral Home, 1745 Zack Hinton Parkway S, McDonough, GA 30253. www.haistenfunerals.com
In lieu of flowers the family ask that a donation be made for research in curing Alzheimer’s disease via the Alzheimer’s Association, https://www.alz.org/
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