DONALD A FEMMEL

Donald A. Femmel, age 64, passed away on Thursday, July 20, 2017, in San

Antonio, Texas. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 22, 1952,

to parents, Arthur and Dorothy Femmel.

After growing up in Chicago and Crystal Lake, Don began attending

Illinois State University and, within the first month of school, met his

lifelong love. Another freshman named Marie boldly approached him to ask

to borrow his baseball mitt in the courtyard outside the dorm. She had

little interest in the mitt, but more in the man that would change her

life forever. Don and Marie were married on June 24, 1972. They were

blessed with three sons: Benjamin, Scott, and Mark.

Upon graduation, Don and Marie moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. They

began their teaching careers in inner-city schools deeply impoverished

and filled with students without hope or self-esteem. Don taught at

James E. Roberts School for the first ten years of his career. This was

a unique school whose entire population was physically handicapped. He

was immediately thrust into the extremely influential position of chess

coach. This was the only extracurricular activity offered by the school,

thus the students' only chance to showcase their potential to those

outside of the school. Through Don's patience, passion, and knowledge,

these young men and women began achieving things that they could not

have imagined before they began pushing pieces across a board. They came

within one round of winning the state championship and played in

multiple national championships. Most importantly, these students had

their first experience with a pattern for success that many of them used

to change the grim circumstances with which their lives began. He knew

this because many of them stayed in contact with him as their lives

progressed through their accomplishments. Much of this can be attributed

to the fact that a teacher saw potential in those who had yet to see it

in themselves and believed in them. He taught there until 1984, when the

school was forced to close down because of new federal regulations

regarding the composition of campus populations.

For the next three years, he got the opportunity to teach at the same

school as his wife (Minnie Hartmann School 78). In 1987, Don and Marie

felt it was time for a drastic change, so they moved their family to San

Antonio, Texas. That Fall, Don began his first of 21 years at Garner

Middle School - a place where he once again impacted young lives with

chess, knowledge, and patience. He taught a variety of subjects at all

three grade levels for many years before becoming a co-teacher. He

dedicated all 34 of his teaching years to those who most needed his

unique expertise and skill-set: special education students. His belief

that nobody's dreams should be hampered by unfortunate circumstances

powered his daily passion for his profession. Garner was not just a job,

but a place where he made many friends and saw so much of his hard work

pay off in the success of his students.

Once Don and Marie retired in 2008, he finally had the time to amplify

his passion for his family, especially his three incredible

granddaughters. In addition to being able to fully enjoy the younger

people in his life, Don and Marie were able to strengthen their love in

the way only a happily retired couple can. They enjoyed traveling back

and forth to St. Louis to visit Mark and his family, going on adventures

with Hanna, riding their bikes, watching a wide variety of television

shows together, and having the opportunity to enjoy each day with their

best friend.

Don is a Baptized child of God and he was a long time member of Shepherd

of the Hills Lutheran Church here in San Antonio where he and Marie

enjoyed the opportunity to help out in different ways.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Scott. Don is

survived by his wife, Marie; sons, Benjamin and Mark; granddaughters,

Hanna, Cozette, and Christine; daughters-in-law, D'Ette and Marlina;

brother, Douglas; nephews, Kevin and Christopher; many friends from

education, Church, and the people he met along his journey through life.

The family receiveed friends Monday, July 31, 2017, at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

Service was TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2017 at

SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS LUTHERAN CHURCH

6914 WURZBACH ROAD, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78240

Rev. Mark Femmel officiated.  Interment followed at Holy Cross

Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran School, San Antonio, Texas.

By the grace of Christ, we will see Don again.