Donald A. Schmeling

Corporal Donald “Don” Allen Schmeling (retired), age 73, passed away peacefully in Syracuse, NY, after a short illness, on August 15, 2018. He was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

Don was born on June 10, 1945 in Syracuse, NY to Kurt and Annette Schmeling. In 1963, he joined the armed forces and was assigned to the Marine Corps base camp in Camp Pendleton, CA. He was discharged with full honors in 1969.

He worked as a truck driver for a number of companies in Syracuse and retired from P&C Foods.  He loved golfing, boating, hunting and fishing with his loyal dog Maxie.

He is survived by his son, Richard, daughters, Wendy and Kelly, brother Robert and sister Marsha. He is preceded in death by his father Kurt, mother Annette and brothers Kurt and Bruce.

In lieu of viewing and funeral, Don requested that he be remembered as he lived, a Marine with a love for and deep respect of nature and life.  Burial, with full military honors, will be at Woodlawn National Cemetery in Elmira, New York.  As part of The U.S Department of Veterans Affairs and The National Cemetery for Military Veterans program, Don can be found in the National Registry.

Final arrangements are provided by Mathewson-Forani Funeral Home, Inc. in East Syracuse, NY. In lieu of flowers, Don requested that donations be made to The Wounded Warrior Project or The Disabled American Veterans Charity in his name, “to honor those that gave more.”

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