Don Tremper's Obituary
Don Allen Tremper, son of Tonini and H. Josephine Overbay Tremper, was born May 26, 1935, in Evansville, Indiana. He departed this life Saturday, January 7, 2006, in St. John’s Hospital, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of seventy years, seven months, and eleven days. On July 24, 1954, he was united in marriage to Mary B. Kelly, and to this union one daughter and four sons were born. His parents, and a daughter, Phyllis Tremper, preceded him in death. Don is survived by his loving wife of fifty-one years, Mary, of the home; four sons, Stephen Tremper, and his wife, Barbara, of Woodbridge, Virginia, Tony Tremper, of Phoenix, Arizona, John Tremper, and his wife, Heather, of Kansas City, Missouri, and Daniel Tremper, and his wife, Lisa, of Manassas, Virginia; eleven grandchildren, Nathaniel, Amy, Christi, Leslie, Nich, Zach, Brianne, Natascha, Jessica, Megan, and Mekayla; six great-grandchildren; a brother, Tom Tremper, and his wife, Sue, of Las Vegas, Nevada; a sister, Jane Carter, of Tustin, California; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends. He was born and raised in Indiana, and then moved with his family to Arizona when he was thirteen years old. He graduated from high school in Yuma, Arizona, and soon after he and Mary were married. Don earned his Bachelors’ Degree from Abilene Christian University and then received his Masters’ Degree from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. He and Mary continued to make their home in Arizona and lovingly raised their family. Don did some post graduate work in education and was a teacher and counselor in the Prescott, Arizona Public Schools for seventeen years. In 1978, he and Mary, along with John and Daniel, moved to Stoutland, Missouri, and Don taught in the Stoutland Schools and then the Waynesville Schools for the next several years. Since moving to Missouri, Don also raised cattle, and for the last few years worked refinishing furniture. Don served as an Elder at the Freedom Church of Christ near Montreal. In his spare time he enjoyed cutting wood, and traveling across the country. Mary and the boys always marveled at how many of Don’s former students they encountered on their travels across the country and at how many lives Don had touched through his teaching and counseling. Don was an enthusiastic student of history, which he passed on to his sons. He was a sports enthusiast and particularly enjoyed basketball, baseball, and slow-pitch softball, and had served as a high school referee. His family was very important to him and he especially enjoyed having time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Don was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and all of his accomplishments and will treasure the wonderful memories he made for his family and friends. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 11, 2006, in the Freedom Church of Christ near Montreal, Missouri. Burial will be in the Freedom Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home at their convenience. Memorial contributions to Fair Haven Children's Home may be made through the funeral home. Services are under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Lebanon, Missouri.
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