Obituary for Donald Shidemantle

AUSTINTOWN - Funeral services will be held Thursday, Aug. 20, at 11 a.m. at Christ Church, U.P. officiated by the Rev. Benjamin Graves for Donald Edward Shidemantle, who passed away surrounded by his loving family, on Aug. 15, 2015, after a brave battle with cancer.

He was born on Nov. 12, 1932, in Youngstown, the son of Dale Shidemantle and Virginia (Magner) Shidemantle

Don left high school to join the U.S. Air Force in 1949. after his discharge in 1952, he went to work as an apprentice bricklayer at the Youngstown Sheet and Tube mill. After his apprenticeship, he worked for the A.E. Anderson Company, traveling extensively throughout the United States and Canada, relining blast furnaces. He claimed to have worked in every steel mill in the United States. While working for the Anderson Company, he worked his way up from bricklayer to superintendent to project manager. After 12 years with that company, Don returned to the Youngstown Sheet and Tube as a superintendent in the Masonry Dept. where he stayed until the mill’s closing. He then started his own company, King Refractory Company, where he worked until his retirement.

Don married his childhood sweetheart, Barbara J. Anthony, in 1953, and they had five children.

Don enjoyed wintering in Florida for a few years until his health started to decline. He was a member and deacon of Christ Church, U.P. and enjoyed visiting shut-in members and hospital patients.

Don loved watching his grandchildren play sports and he also enjoyed fishing with his buddies, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He had a great sense of humor and loved his family gatherings.

Don is survived by his wife, and his children, Karen S. (Shidemantle) Stephenson, Terri L. (Angelo) Kissos, Sandra E. (Jerry) Bruff and Donald A. (Michelle Goehring) Shidemantle.

Don was preceded in death by his son, Jeffrey D. Shidemantle, who passed away in August of 1991, as well as his parents; a brother, Philip McKinley; and a sister, Virginia (Ginny Lou) Golec.

Don also leaves nine grandchildren, Steven and Daniel Voytko, Richard Farrow, Angelo Kissos, Jr., Sarah, Katelyn and Zachary Bruff, and Ryan and Kaylee Shidemantle, as well as five great grandchildren; and various aunts and cousins who loved him dearly. He had an extended family of Shidemantles which included four halfbrothers and two half sisters who live in Pennsylvania and Florida.

Calling hours will be held Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Austintown Chapel. and at the church from 10 to 10:45 a.m. on Thursday.

Interment will be at Green Haven Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of the Valley, to whom they are most grateful for the attentive and loving care Don received during the last weeks of his life.

Donations may be made to www.hospiceofthevalley.com.

Please visit www.higgins-reardon.com to view this obituary and send condolences.