Donald Frederick Entenman

Donald Frederick Entenman of Toledo, OH passed away at Hospice of Northwest Ohio and joined the Saints Triumphant on March 27, 2008. Don was born to Maude and Fred W. Entenman on February 21, 1924. He especially enjoyed elementary school because of many caring teachers. He graduated from Whitmer High School and was active in Track & Field and school plays. He was president of his senior class. He attended North Central College in Naperville, IL before being drafted into the United States Military. He served his country in the United States Air Force in World War II. On June 23, 1945, he married his high school sweetheart, Audrey Naomi Bueche, during a month leave from service. Upon returning from the remainder of his duty in Tampa, FL, he attended the University of Toledo. Shortly thereafter, he began his lifelong career at Enterprise Roofing & Sheet Metal Co., where he worked until his retirement in 2005. He became president of the company in 1974 and later became chairman of the board. During his employment he represented the company in all labor negotiation meetings. Don was a trustee for the Toledo Area Sheet Metal Workers Pension Board and the Toledo Roofers Local 134 Pension Plan. He won the Award of Merit in 1963 for the Ohio Sheet Metal Roofing and Air Conditioning Contractors Association. He was a member of the Toledo Building Congress. Don was President of Rogers High School Parent Teachers Association and the Friendly Center, a member of United Way, Rotary Club of Toledo and VFW. He was a Board Member of NW Ohio AAA and a sixty-year member of the Grand Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio. Don was a member, board member, teacher, Sunday School Superintendent for Zion Evangelical United Brethren Church. He was a member of the building committee for Hope United Methodist Church on Sylvania Ave. of which his father, Fred W. Entenman was the Building Contractor. A board member of Evangelical United Brethren Childrens Home at Flat Rock, Ohio and a trustee of West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church Board of Pensions. Most recently, Don was a member of St. Andrew United Methodist Church. Don was President of the Historical Society of Grand Rapids, Ohio where he was named Man of the Year in 1983. He was Chairman of the Parking for the Apple Butter Festival in Grand Rapids for many years. He and his wife Audrey were enthralled by Grand Rapids and recognized its potential and had a desire to restore it. They started by buying the Evans Hardware building which was empty and totally deteriorated at the time and restored it to its original structure. This began their dream of what it could become. After the Village Ice Cream Parlor, which they worked on with Dave LaRoe, who still owns and manages a restaurant in Village. Dave and Audrey dressed in period clothing and personally met every train that came through Grand Rapids to invite and escort visitors to their Front Street stores. The Entenmans restored six buildings in addition to Stumps Mill, the Housely House Victorian and a Greek Revival House. Three were nominated for the National Registry. Mr. Entenmans love for architecture and his wifes love for gardening and beautification made them a great team. Don enjoyed nature and spending time in the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and traveling. Don and his wife Audrey worked hand-in-hand in all of lifes activities during their 63 years of marriage. Donald is preceded in death by his mother Maude and his father Fred W. Entenman, his beloved sister Geneva Flickinger Holly; in-laws Wes and Helen Bueche, Lowell and Pat Bueche Lamale. He is survived by his loving wife, Audrey Bueche Entenman; sons, Pastor Donald D. of Wisconsin, Douglas Stephanie of Fostoria, OH and Richard of Toledo, OH; Nine Grandchildren, Danelle John, Fred Christina, Michelle Brian, Rebecca Joe, Sarah Josh, David, Todd, Kyle, and Callan; Five Great-grandchildren, Magnus, Lillian, Giselle, Hannah, and Tyler; his devoted sister, Mary Ann Entenman Parker Bill; sister-in-law, Phyllis Bueche Seiple Roy; and many nieces and nephews. The family wishes to especially thank Jan Entenman, Judy Entenman, Peggy Bublick, Mike Lamale, Dr. Richard Paat, and all other medical staff that cared so graciously for him during his illness. Not enough can be said about the loving care of all the staff at Hospice of NW Ohio. Thanks to all you beautiful people. Memorial gifts can be given to Hospice of NW Ohio 800 S. Detroit Ave, Toledo, OH, Marias Cupboard at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, Grand Rapids Ohio Historical Society, or St. Pauls Episcopal Church Respite Center, Maumee, OH. Friends and family may call at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave., Toledo, OH, west of Corey Rd on Monday, March 31 from 1 to 9 PM. Funeral services will be held at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 3662 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, OH on Tuesday, April 1 at 10 AM. Interment will follow at Beaver Creek Cemetery in Grand Rapids, OH