Donald E. Goon, 83, of Warsaw, Ind., passed away at 12:45 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014, in Mason’s Health and Rehabilitation Center, Warsaw.
He was born Aug. 23, 1930, in St. Joseph County, Ind., to Glenn E. and Nina M. (Long) Goon. He was united in marriage to Monna Shideler Coppes on Sept. 17, 1992, in Winona Lake, Ind.
He served as a corporal in the U.S. Army 4th Infantry during the Korean Conflict from 1951 to 1953. He was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. Donald was employed at Robert Gilliam John Deere Company, Warsaw.
In 1955, he became a self-employed dairy farmer primarily in the Atwood, Ind., area. Donald drove Indiana Motor Bus, was a substitute school bus driver and he worked for several years for the Sponseller Brothers until 2008. He was involved with the Kosciusko County 4-H Fair Board for many years and was elected president in 1975. He was instrumental in starting the semi-truck pulls.
Donald loved supporting the 4-H Council, of which he was chairman. He was also chairman of the Dairy Association and 4-H dairy barn. He has been a member of the Kosciusko County Drainage Board since 1982 and was also an avid John Deere toy tractor collector.
Donald is survived by his daughter: Kathy (Jan) Gawthrop, North Manchester, Ind.; four sons: Thames (Priscilla) Goon, Warsaw; Karlton “Kart” (Julia) Goon, Warsaw; Jonathan (Tina) Goon, Warsaw; and Mitchell Goon, Warsaw; two step sons: Bruce (Cindy) Coppes, Warsaw; and David (Callie) Coppes, Warsaw; 15 grandchildren, four step grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and three step great-grandchildren.
Visitation is from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Aug. 22, at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw. Services will follow at noon Friday in the funeral home with Pastor Mike Beezley and Pastor Denny Bollenbacher officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw. Don requests attendees to wear casual attire in your favorite John Deere clothing or other tractor colors.
Memorial contributions are to be made to Clunette United Methodist Church or to Don Goon Memorial Fund.
To sign the guestbook or send condolences electronically, go to the McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapels website.